Apple iPhone 3GS ($US199) -> Motorola Droid ($US199)
When the iPhone was released, it was a generation, at least, beyond the entire smartphone market. Now, many manufacturers have worked hard to catch up. And while the iPhone is still my personal favourite, I understand wanting a phone on the Verizon network rather than AT&T. Besides, the Droid hardware is fantastic, and its software, Android 2.0, feels far more like a full-featured OS than the original. Just as we said in our full review, “It’s this simple: If you don’t buy an iPhone, buy a Droid.” (AU: Until the Droid launches in Australia, I’d suggest the HTC Hero (on anyone but Optus, who block paid apps on the Android Marketplace)

What you gain:
• Physical keyboard
• Fewer dropped calls
• Memory slot expansion

What you lose:
• iTunes integration
• Decent built-in media player

iPod Touch ($US199, 8GB) -> Zune HD ($US219, 16GB)
I know, I know. Why buy a Zune? If you’re heavily invested in iTunes albums, the answer is, no reason. But for those who are willing to break from the Apple music infrastructure, the Zune HD is actually an awesome PMP. The aluminium case is very sharp, with an OLED screen that’s richer than any iPod (though slightly worse in the sun). The Zune software, coupled with optional unlimited download subscription packages, is every bit as hip and convenient as Cover Flow and iTunes, provided you run Windows. Oh, also, you don’t need to drop $US300 to get a decent amount of storage and you get HD TV-Out and a not-so-bad TV interface to boot. So when you’re sick of the little screen, you can go as big as you’d like. (AU: With no Zune in Australia, there aren’t any standout non-Apple PMPs. Grey import time?)

What you gain:
• 8GB more storage (base model)
• HD Radio
• Unlimited music subscription with free MP3s
• HD TV-Out and an on-screen TV interface

What you lose:
• iTunes integration
• About a billion apps

iPod Nano ($US180, 16GB) -> Flip Ultra HD ($US150)
The obvious contender to the iPod Nano used to be the Zune 16. But now? You can’t even get that model of Zune. And with a built-in camcorder, be it a bit on the crappy side, the Nano truly is a unique contender in its space. However, I ask you this: Don’t you already have an MP3 player? Seriously, it’s not possible that you don’t. OK then, just buy the Flip Ultra HD, the best bang for your buck pocket camcorder on the market. And use your old iPod because it probably still works fine.

What you gain:
• HD video

What you lose:
• I mean, it’s not an iPod, or any kind of media player, obviously

iPod Shuffle ($US100, 4GB) -> Sansa Clip+ ($US70, 8GB)
The new Shuffle is basically nonexistent, a device that, while remarkable in terms of minimalist design, may be a tad difficult to wield when you just want to play that one song you want to hear. Enter the Sansa Clip+, an chunky but still tiny MP3 player lauded by audiophiles (if such a thing is possible) that supports up to 16GB of MicroSD expansion. Save even more money by buying the 2GB version (just $US40) and sticking in a spare MicroSD. And as we said in our review, the Clip+ is “the best low-end mp3 player on the market, without question.”

What you gain:
• Sound quality
• MicroSD expansion
• An actual screen
• Voice recorder
• The freedom to choose any headphones

What you lose:
• iTunes
• Trash-talking Voice Over function

Apple TV ($US229, 160GB) -> Asus O!Play ($US99)
No matter what direction you go, you’re pretty much always better off not buying an Apple TV. It’s basically a closed box that hates supporting not only external codecs but external drives, too, and you can forget about navigating to files on your own network—even ones stored on your precious Time Capsule. The $US99 Asus O!Play is our favourite budget way to play media in any codec under the sun, from files on a Mac or PC formatted drive or streamed from pretty much any NAS drive. As for watching movies on demand, chances are, your cable box already does that. Need more options? The LG BD390 is an excellent Wi-Fi-equipped Blu-ray player with Netflix and Vudu video, and DivX support. And heck, I’d even recommend the $US199 Xbox 360 as a Netflix/DivX machine with Windows Media centre Extender capabilities. Basically, you can’t go wrong here. Everything is better than Apple TV, unless you have a library full of purchased iTunes music and movies, and if you do, you probably have Apple TV already, so go enjoy it.

What you gain:
• Mega codec support
• Ability to stream your video files from computers and NAS drives
• Cash in your pocket

What you lose:
• The iTunes video ball and chain

MacBook ($US999) -> Dell Studio 14z ($US750)
As Mark Spoonauer said in our best Windows laptop roundup, “Think of it as the poor man’s MacBook-with better specs.” No, the Dell Studio 14z doesn’t run OS X, but the Core 2 Duo laptop weighs 130 grams lighter than a MacBook while offering 1GB more RAM (base), 70GB more storage, a backlit keyboard and nicer built-in speakers.

What you gain:
• More storage
• More RAM
• Backlit keyboard
• Less weight

What you lose:
• OS X
• Optical drive
• Flash card reader

MacBook Pro ($US1200) -> HP Envy ($US1700)
I’m not sure anyone should actually choose the 13-inch Envy (full review) over the 13-inch MacBook Pro (full review), but the Envy is the closest knock-off on the market. For the $US500 Envy premium, you do shed 360 grams off the MacBook Pro, coming in at just 1.6kg (which is crazy-light for a laptop of this size). And you’ll score an extra GB of RAM along with a more powerful, discrete Radeon HD 4330 graphics. But we’re still talking about $US500 extra for a computer that, ultimately, doesn’t feel as solid as a unibody Mac. Plus, if you really want to run Win 7, that plays just fine on the MBP, too. As for the MBP 15, there’s really no ideal alternative. And if you were considering the 15-inch Envy, think again.

What you gain:
• More overall power
• Less weight
• Prettier screen

What you lose:
• OS X
• Optical drive
• Frame rigidity

iMac ($US1200, 21.5-inch) -> HP TouchSmart 600 ($US1,050, 23-inch)
The latest iMac (full review) is a beautiful machine, no doubt. But there are alternatives to this famed all-in-one. Our favourite is the HP TouchSmart 600 (full review), which is sort of the souped-up Civic to Apple’s classic Porsche. Both will do a quarter mile in the same time—with Core 2 Duo processors—but the TouchSmart has the shiny detailing and LED underlighting of a street racer, while sprucing up the package with a decent touch display coupled with special Twitter, Facebook and even recipe box apps designed for the system. Especially as a kitchen computer, the HP TouchSmart is a valid alternative to the iMac.

What you gain:
• Larger, touchscreen
• Glitzy accents with customisable LED underlighting
• Clever apps
• HDMI input for home theatre fun

What you lose:
• OS X
• Understated design

MacBook Air ($US1500) -> Dell Adamo XPS ($US2000)
There’s only one laptop on the market that can confidently purge alongside the MacBook Air, and that’s the Dell Adamo XPS. While the price premium seems absurd at first, keep in mind that the Adamo XPS, at about half the thickness of the Air, is loaded with a 128GB flash drive and 4GB of RAM stock (while the MacBook Air will run $US1800 in a similar SSD configuration and maxed at 2GB of RAM). If you’re considering an Air, you want a computer that says “I’m good at spending money.” And the Adamo XPS will most certainly fulfil that need.

What you gain:
• 1 USB port
• Ethernet jack
• 2GB of RAM
• A clasp that opens from the heat of your finger

What you lose:
• OS X
• About $US500

Mac Mini ($US600) -> Acer AspireRevo R6310 ($US330)
If I had the choice between a Mac Mini (full review) and the AspireRevo R6310—spending someone else’s money—I would still choose the Revo for its HTPC prowess. The Mac Mini has always been a promising system falling just short of its potential in terms of both price and performance. Meanwhile, the absurdly cheap Revo, equipped with Ion tech that’s more than happy to handle 1080p video outputted to your TV through HDMI (as opposed to Apple’s need for funky wiring and/or hard-to-find specialised adapters), is kind enough to include 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, HDMI, eSATA, VGA, 6 USB ports, card reader, wireless-N and a wireless keyboard and mouse for roughly half the price of a Mini. The only thing the Revo isn’t optimal for is browsing Flash pages, that is, until we finally see an update that makes Ions and Flash play well together.

What you gain:
• HDMI out
• 1 USB port
• eSATA port
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• Like $US300

What you lose:
• OS X
• FireWire

Time Capsule (1TB, $US299) -> D-Link DIR-685 (Expandable, $US215)
The convenience of a Time Capsule, a combination wireless router and NAS, is tough to beat because it’s so unique. But I wouldn’t call the task impossible. The D-Link DIR-685 (full review) is a wireless-N router with a range that’s competitive with Apple’s own AirPort Extreme. You choose your storage capacity by sticking in your own 2.5-inch drive. Oh, plus it’s a photo frame, BitTorrent downloader, iTunes server, FTP server, network file sharing with user management and even a UPnP streamer to video players. The only thing it isn’t? Time Machine compliant. I know, I know. If you’re willing to part with the built-in router, however, then another excellent choice is the Iomega Ix2-200 NAS (full review)—and that is Time Machine capable.

What you gain:
• Swappable storage
• Tons of advanced networking features
• BitTorrent downloading
• Media flexibility
• Digital photo frame

What you lose:
• Time Machine support (if this is a problem, check out Iomega’s alternative)

Mac Pro ($US2,500) -> Hackintosh (far less $$$)
There is one reason you want to buy a Mac Pro, and that’s for OS X. So I’m not going to waste time by pretending there’s any suitable alternative by someone like Dell or HP. Your best bet is to build a Hackintosh, a custom PC with a bootlegged OS X. Just keep in mind, you won’t be able to build this system like any old Windows PC—you’ll need to follow a guide with pretested hardware to construct something you can be sure will work. Luckily, such a guide is available, built by our friends from Lifehacker (see it here).

What you gain:
• Literally, thousands of dollars
• Gaudy case mods

What you lose:
• Peace of mind (there’s always the slight chance of Hackintosh deactivation)
• Easy component upgrades

In brief, the Envy is a indeed light system with plenty of power, but it never feels premium, nor does the battery life reach adequate levels.

Sure, it comes in a nice black box labelled “ENVY” with properly monolithic upscalism. And the computer itself is wrapped in a very, very soft black cloth.

But once removed, I can’t distinguish this $US1,800 laptop from any random PC on a table at Best Buy. HP’s premium laptop, one that’s been oooh’d and ahhh’d ad nauseam, could have been a $US600 budget laptop.
The aluminium magnesium body, which works well enough in the 13-inch Envy, scales to become a big, synthetic-feeling disappointment. Yes, it’s just an inch thick and 2.4kg (about 500g lighter than peers), but the footprint is so large that, upon opening the packaging, I at first believed HP had sent me a 17-inch system (keep in mind, there’s still no room for an internal optical drive).

It was a surprising thought, but at that moment, I realised something: HP is the new Dell. Disregarding their impressive TouchSmart desktops, HP has built the quintessential drab PC laptop and labelled it as “designer.” Meanwhile, Dell, with their fashion-forward Adamo line, has left rivals like HP somewhere back in 1995.

Kudos, Dell.

I almost hate to continue describing the system, lest I beat a dead horse. The keyboard is adequate, but every impact reverberates through your finger, making the laptop feel more fragile than it probably is. The trackpad, despite multitouch promises, is dreadful to use. Two-finger scrolling is met with a perpetual half-second (or greater) delay, and clicking the buttonless pad (engineered much like a MacBook Pro pad) screams unfinished prototype.
There’s simply nothing elegant about the mechanics, even though the 1920×1080 screen is indeed sharp, HDMI and eSATA connections are convenient and the Beats-branded speakers are very balanced and rich…for laptop speakers.

Performance
But my hate-fest for the Envy ends there. If you don’t mind the aesthetics and feel—and at this price, you really should—the system won’t disappoint. The 1.6GHz Core i7, coupled with 6GB of RAM, 500GB 7200RPM HDD, and ATI Mobility Radeon 4830 (with 1GB RAM) has gotten performance nods from around the web.

While the system can’t best 20fps in the higher tiers of Crysis, it can reach 32fps if you scale the graphics down to 1024×768, according to Notebookcheck. Older and less insane titles perform even better.

PCMag’s cross-laptop testing found that the Envy isn’t the fastest laptop out there, but it keeps pace with other Core i7 systems to the point that such a distinction doesn’t really matter. And it’ll shame Core2Duo systems, like the aging MacBook Pro.

In real world use, the speed is a pleasure, and a welcome level of overkill for mediacentric web browsing in an era when Atoms are chugging to just get the job done.

Battery Life
But all this performance comes at a heavy, heavy price. You should only expect the Envy to get a measly 1 hour, 20 minutes of battery life*. Given this system’s sizable footprint, it needs to last more than 2 hours under moderate use. Stick a bigger battery in there, HP. Something. Please.

(*nonstop web browsing, Wi-Fi on, screen at 3/4 brightness.)

Misguided Envy
Some of you will be fooled by the light body covered in laser-etched paisley—probably the same among you who can drink instant coffee, listen in 92kbps MP3s and think that SD broadcasts look identical to Blu-ray movies.
And that’s fine. I can understand why someone might like the Envy, especially given the processing power and modest 2.3kg weight. It’s just a shame that anyone would pay so much for it.

HP, Acer, Toshiba, etc, you think I like giving Apple all my money? There’s a staggering amount of design talent in the world. Find it. Fund it. And give it a chance to wipe the smug grin off Cupertino. Offer us all something that we should really be envying.

Light

Fast

Respectable I/O

Feels cheap

Wretched battery life

The Envy 13 and 15 wave goodbye to Voodoo’s Envy 133, which was an overpriced ultraportable that had only style to save it from total inhalation. These Envys keep that style and blast it out in performance. Both are built from the same stuff — aluminium and magnesium with subtle etching on the lids and palmrests. Shocked to hear they both have island style keyboards and multitouch trackpads with integrated mouse buttons? Don’t be because HP isn’t hiding the fact that they absolutely stole their look and ergonomics from the Macbook Pros. The $US1699 13-inch Envy isn’t as powerful as the $US1799 Envy 15’s Core i7 processor, but its beautiful screen has been in my dreams.

Envy 13
The Envy 13 is smaller than the Macbook (and lots of ultraportables on the market) and closer in size to the Air. When the lid is closed it is .8-inches thin and it weighs 3.74 pounds. Its screen, which has a strikingly similar frameless bezel to the unibody Macbook family, is absolutely stunning. Dubbed an HP Radiance, the 410 nit display is apparently two times as bright as other LED displays. And honestly it looked it; in comparison to the Macbook’s, the same picture was noticeably brighter and clearer.

It crams switchable ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics and an Intel ultra low voltage Core 2 Duo processor inside. Its standalone battery promises 7 hours of battery life, however its battery slice is actually sweet (yea, I effin said a battery slice was cool). It magnetically clips to the bottom of the notebook to make it look like it is part of the actual build. HP promises 18 hours of juice with that thing clipped on. That would run any of the Giz team’s MacBooks under the table. Did I mention it has Dr. Dre’s fingers all over it with Beats Audio integration?

Envy 15
Where the Envy 13 leaves off in performance the Envy 15 picks up and knocks the crap out of it. The 15.6-inch version looks pretty similar to the 13, but is laser etched all around (on the palmrest and the lid) and lacks the flush glass display with the high quality Radiance technology. Inside it will out preform any laptop we have seen on the market since it will have Intel’s next generation mobile Core i7 processors, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830 graphics and support for up to 16GB of RAM. The beast will also have two hard drive bays and you can fill those both with SSDs. It will only come with the 64-bit version of Windows 7.

Told you they could be beat the Macbook Pros and that it would be worth your while to wait to buy a notebook in October. Both will be available on Oct. 15 (you can upgrade them to Win 7 after Oct. 22). And if I didn’t give you enough details, the full release is below. [HP]

HP Redefines the Premium Notebook PC with ENVY
Precision-crafted, high-performance notebooks are bright, thin,deliver superb experience

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 15, 2009 – HP today redefines the premium notebook PC experience with the introduction of the HP ENVY sub-brand, which offers customers precision-crafted, high-performance models featuring HP Metal Etching and concierge service and support.

The new HP ENVY 13 boasts the brightest display in its class, and the HP ENVY 15 is the company’s fastest consumer notebook PC ever. “HP ENVY includes the latest in materials and technology inside and out and pushes the technological and performance boundaries of what can be done in sleek, powerful and lightweight notebook PCs,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Discerning consumers will get a premium experience and performance.”

With HP ENVY, the focus is on designing an entire premium experience to satisfy the most demanding customers – from the products to the packaging to the service and support.

Breakthrough HP Metal Etching on the lid and palmrest of the ENVY 15, and on the palmrest of the ENVY 13, subtly signals luxury. The combination of materials provides exceptional mobility and a compelling metal look and feel, while
using energy-responsible manufacturing methods.

The HP ENVY line – building upon the Voodoo ENVY legacy – includes leadingedge components optimised to yield power and performance. HP partnered with Beats by Dr. Dre to develop a unique, high-performance subsystem tuned
for today’s music and available exclusively on the HP Envy: Beats Audio. Envy users will feel the music – not just listen – and enjoy music the way the artist intended.

The lightweight heavyweight: ENVY 13
The ENVY 13 balances style and substance. Carefully crafted details inside and out will satisfy the cravings of demanding mobile customers.

The HP Radiance display is twice as bright as other notebook displays in its class – 410 nit (a measurement of display brightness) – and provides an exceptional movie and photo experience, even in high ambient light conditions. With 82
percent colour gamut (versus standard 45-60 percent), photos appear richer with amazing colour depth. Additionally, with fast 8-millisecond response time, customers can view movies with TV-like performance.

The ENVY 13’s strong performance is delivered in a small frame – less than an inch thin and weighing 3.74 pounds.(1) The exterior’s aluminium and magnesium construction provides durability in a sleek design. An etched-metal palmrest
further sets the PC apart from others, and a VGA webcam(3) optimised for low light also is included.

HP placed the same focus on design into its optional Slim Fit Extended-Life Notebook Battery. Taking the form of a “slice,” it preserves the sleek look of the ENVY 13 while giving users up to 18 hours of battery life with the extended-life battery.(2) The standard battery is user-replaceable. ATI Switchable Graphics technology dynamically switches between ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4330 discrete graphics and the Intel® integrated graphics processor for either high-powered graphics processing or low power consumption for long battery life without booting the notebook. The Intel Core™ 2 Duo processor provides the power of dual processor cores while delivering extended battery life when the notebook is unplugged.

Designed with the most demanding mobile user in mind, the ENVY 13 notebook’s premium AC adaptor is small and light. It draws minimal power, has built-in surge protection and includes a rubberized strap that keeps the cables
organized and the adaptor from slipping off a slick surface. An optional HP USB Ethernet adaptor also is available.

The performance powerhouse: ENVY 15
This lean, mean, dream machine is HP’s fastest consumer notebook. The full metal case features a sleek, subtly crafted, laser-etched metal design on the lid that is repeated on the palmrest. The magnesium alloy casing provides
lightweight durability in a 1-inch thin, 5.18-pound package. (1)Customers have maximum speed and mobility with the future Intel Core i7 processor(4) and up to 16 gigabytes (GB) of DDR3 1,066-MHz system memory in four SODIMM memory slots. Versatile storage options include the ability to add two solid-state drives in a RAID-0 configuration to improve the overall speed of the ENVY 15 while providing excellent disk performance. Creative users will appreciate the ENVY 15 notebook’s performance and full versions of Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2 and Corel VideoStudio® Pro X2 for creating photo and video content.

Power users and gamers can take advantage of premium graphics performance via ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830 graphics with 1 GB of dedicated video memory for visually intense applications, DirectX® 10.1 games and highdefinition video playback.

A choice of two 15.6-inch HP Brightview high-resolution LED backlit displays, including the Full High Definition LED HP Ultra BrightView Widescreen Display with up to 300-nits brightness, provides a superb display experience for a
notebook in this class. A Nightvision VGA webcam that is optimised for low-light or zero-light conditions is standard on the HP ENVY 15, incorporating an infrared LED that assists the webcam(3) by providing the necessary illumination in dark environments.

The ENVY 15 has an optional Slim Fit Extended-Life Notebook Battery, giving users up to seven hours of battery life.(2)

Designing the ENVY experience
The HP ENVY line includes a 360-degree approach to product design – from the products to the packaging:
• Building upon HP’s success with instant-on technology, HP QuickWeb allows customers to access key applications without booting the PC. In less than 30 seconds, users can access the Internet, music, videos and photos, and
email.(3)
• HP Clickpad integrates the buttons into the touchpad and allows for fluid movements, while also allowing users to disable the clickpad if desired.
• The keyboard’s direct-action keys (versus typical function keys) allow users to quickly access often-used commands such as print and volume adjustment.
• Minimal desktop clutter and trial software adds to notebooks’ simplicity.
• An optional external optical drive complements the ENVY design and gives users the flexibility to carry the extra weight only when necessary. Two USB ports also transform the drive into a dock for additional capability.
• The ENVY 13 and 15 are presented in streamlined paper carton boxes using minimal ink. Included in the packaging is a simplified setup poster and documentation contained within an SD card.

Concierge service and support
The ENVY experience extends to premium service and support via the awardwinning HP Total Care program. This includes expert agents dedicated to addressing ENVY customers’ questions via phone, online chat and email as well
as next-day shipping for hardware customer service.

Pricing and availability
The HP ENVY 13 and ENVY 15 are expected to be available in the United States on Oct. 18 with a starting price of $US1,699 and $US1,799, respectively.(5) Register for availability notification at www.hpdirect.com/go/newfromhp.
Additional information about HP ENVY is available at www.hp.com/go/ENVY.