Editor's Choice Tech Awards

Best Mainstream Desktop CPU

When it comes to mainstream desktop processors, we looked at the entire platform cost to find out the value proposition since there's quite a price disparity between AMD and Intel mainstream processors. In other words, we'll be factoring the cost of the motherboard together with the cost of the processor in the evaluation.

Nominees

There are practically two brands out there for x86 desktop processors - AMD and Intel. Based on what these two companies define as their mainstream products, we have identified two nominees:

• AMD Athlon II X4 630
• Intel Core i5-750

And the Winner is

The Intel Core i5-750 is our best mainstream desktop processor.

Mainstream CPU Benchmarks (Selected)

Benchmark/Processor Model	AMD Athlon II X4 630	Intel Core i5-750
SYSmark 2007	144	189
Cinebench 10	8859	11344
Crysis 1.1	70.89	106.13

In our benchmark results, from system suites to video rendering and gaming, the Intel Core i5-750 had the upper hand in terms of performance. The inclusion of other features like Intel Turbo Boost along with a clear advantage over the Athlon II in terms of power consumption meant that on two of three major factors, the Core i5-750 was ahead. The lower price of the Athlon II kept it interesting and competitive but in the end, we felt that the Intel Core i5-750 deserved the accolade for its technological edge and performance.
The table below illustrates how the two processors fared in our various criteria, ranging from performance to value. The prices quoted are the figures at the time of the review.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	AMD Athlon II X4 630	Intel Core i5-750
Performance	8.0	9.0
Features	8.0	8.5
Value	8.0	7.0
Overall	8.0	8.5
Price	US$113	US$200

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best High-end Desktop CPU

For this category, we chose the very best processor from the two chip vendors, AMD and Intel. Since Intel holds a substantial performance lead over its rival, it was frankly quite the mis-match, even after we factored in the cost of the entire platform, including the motherboard. However, that's the current state of the competition but we hope that it will be more competitive for the next Tech Awards.

Nominees

• AMD Phenom II X4 965 'Black Edition'
• Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition

And the Winner is

The Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition is our best High-end desktop processor.

High-end CPU Benchmarks (Selected)

Benchmark/Processor Model	AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE	Intel Core i7-975 XE
SYSmark 2007	173	208
Cinebench 10	11094	17147
Crysis 1.1	94.27	119.49

As expected, the benchmarks heavily favored the Intel processor, which was also very competitive in terms of power consumption. However, it is extremely expensive at around US$1000. Add the cost of the motherboard and the total platform cost for going Intel is very much higher than the AMD route. There's no doubt that AMD scores highly in value here but is that sufficient?

After all, we're looking at the best 'high-end' processor, so we felt that technology and performance should have a greater say. Intel's HyperThreading and Turbo Boost features all enhance the attractiveness of its top processor, making it quite the monster for those tasks that require raw computing power. This is why we decided that the honor of being the Best High-end Desktop CPU goes to the Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	AMD Phenom II X4 965 'Black Edition'	Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition
Performance	8.0	9.0
Features	8.0	8.0
Value	8.5	6.0
Overall	8.0	8.5
Price	US$196	US$1000

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Mainstream Intel Motherboard (Intel P55)

The most significant chipset development in 2009 was the introduction of Intel's P55 Express chipset, which supported Intel processors using the LGA1156 package. This chipset brought Intel's Nehalem architecture to an affordable, mainstream level for consumers. That's why we have chosen to select the best Intel motherboard of the year from among the numerous P55 motherboards that have passed through our lab.

Nominees

• ASUS P7P55D-E Premium
• DFI P55-T3eH9
• ECS P55H-A
• Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD6
• Intel DP55KG
• MSI P55-GD80

And the Winner is

The ASUS P7P55D-E Premium is our best mainstream Intel motherboard.

We have attempted to review the very best representatives of the P55 chipset from each of the major vendors. Nevertheless, prices differed due to the amount of features and components selected and there was an inevitable price variance. Hence, one can find extremely premium boards from major vendors along the more value-oriented models from brands that target the budget-conscious. The ASUS P7P55D-E Premium and the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD6 stood out for having support for USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbit/s while the MSI P55-GD80 introduced very interesting proprietary features that struck a balance between casual and enthusiast users. These three boards were the front-runners for their performance and features.

In the end, we found that the ASUS P7P55D-E, despite being the most expensive of the boards here, deserved the top spot by virtue of its proper support and implementation of USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbit/s. Its feature list was also very comprehensive while performance was competitive with the rest.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	ASUS P7P55D-E Premium	DFI LanParty DK P55-T3eH9	ECS P55H-A	Gigabyte P55A-UD6	Intel DP55KG	MSI P55-GD80
Performance	8.5	9.0	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.5
Features	9.5	8.0	7.0	9.0	7.5	9.0
Value	8.0	8.5	9.0	7.5	6.5	8.5
Overall	9.0	8.5	8.0	8.5	7.0	9.0
Price	US$280	US$190	US$120	US$250	US$210	US$120

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Mainstream AMD Motherboard (AMD 785G)

AMD did not release any significant updates to its motherboard chipsets in 2009. We did get the AMD 785G, the successor to the popular AMD 780G chipset that brought decent integrated graphics to the table. The AMD 785G builds on this legacy with slightly enhanced graphics that improves support for standards and not surprisingly, like the 780G, we soon saw many offerings from manufacturers in this mainstream segment.

Nominees

• ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO
• ECS A785GM-M
• DFI LANParty BI 785G-M35
• Gigabyte GA-MA785GPM-UD2H
• MSI 785GM-E65

And the Winner is

The ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO is our best mainstream AMD motherboard.

In our testing, the ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO emerged as the best of the AMD 785G motherboards. It was usually the pacesetter in the benchmarks. It had the lowest temperature measured and its power consumption numbers were in line with the others. The competitive pricing also helped to win us over. Our only concerns were some minor ones about the layout but overall, it triumphed thanks to its quality and performance.

Criteria/Model	ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO	DFI BI 785G-M35	ECS A785GM-M	Gigabyte GA-MA785GPM-UD2H	MSI 785GM-E51
Performance	8.5	8.0	7.5	8.0	7.5
Features	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0
Value	8.0	7.5	8.0	7.5	8.0
Overall	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.5	7.5
Price	US$95	US$100	US$85	S$180	S$172

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best DDR3-1600 Memory Triple Channel Kit

DDR3 memory finally found widespread adoption in 2009 and with Intel using a triple-channel architecture in its Nehalem Core i7 processors, we decided that for our sole memory category, we should go with a triple-channel kit. We also chose the DDR3-1600 speed as we felt that it is the middle-ground between enthusiasts looking for overclocking potential and more casual users who just want a decently high speed memory.

Nominees

• Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600MHz Low Latency XMP Ready 3GB Kit
• G.SKILL PI DDR3 PC3-12800 CL8 3GB Kit
• OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Intel i7 Triple Channel Kit
• Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series DDR3 3GB PC3-12800 Low Latency DIMM Kit
• Team Group Xtreem Dark DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz CL8 Kit

And the Winner is

Kingston's HyperX DDR3 1600MHz Low Latency XMP Ready 3GB Kit is our best DDR3-1600 triple-channel memory kit.

When it came to assessing these memory kits, we took note of their performance in benchmarks, which were generally similar, as they all had almost identical memory timings. Voltages too were similar, which meant that overclocking, temperature and prices were our main determinants of who to award our best memory kit accolade to.

It was a tight choice between three very good contenders from Kingston, OCZ and Patriot and you can choose any of them and be assured of their quality. In the end however, the Kingston HyperX DDR3-1600 kit managed to convince us with its excellent temperature readings that were a notch better than the competition. The price was also fair and competitive enough while worldwide availability, warranty and support are one of the best. It may not be the overclocker's choice of memory, but for the more casual or budget conscious user, it's a great choice.

Criteria/Model	G.SKILL PI DDR3 PC3-12800 CL8 3GB Kit	Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600MHz Low Latency XMP Ready 3GB Kit	OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Intel i7 Triple Channel Kit	Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series DDR3 3GB PC3-12800 Low Latency DIMM Kit	Team Group Xtreem Dark DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz CL8 Kit
Performance	7.5	8.0	8.0	8.5	7.5
Features	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0
Value	7.0	8.5	8.5	8.0	7.5
Overall	7.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.0
Price	US$130	US$83	US$70	US$81	US$108

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Graphics Chip

Life for a graphics chip begins at the top. For the uninitiated, the development of a new graphics card series begins with a powerful chip that forms the top level SKU. Thereafter, lower level SKUs are formed by means of product binning, where chips that cannot perform at the level that the top SKU demands are reused by either disabling non-critical parts that are defective or by reducing its clock speeds. This ensures that a minimum number of parts are wasted.
For ATI, life begins with the mighty Cypress XT, used in the Radeon HD 5870. Chips that didn't fare as well are then used to make the Radeon HD 5850, HD 5770 and HD 5750. In the case of NVIDIA, their ace chip is the GT200 that is found in the GeForce GTX 280 (which was later improved on to give us the GeForce GTX 285). And chips that did not make the cut became the GeForce GTX 275 and GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 SKUs.

Nominees

Hence, the battle of the best graphics chip is between ATI's Radeon 5000 series and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 200 series.

• ATI Radeon HD 5000 series
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 200 series

And the Winner is

ATI's Radeon HD 5000 series is our best graphics chip.

No matter how you look at it, the new Radeon HD 5000 series is superior to NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 200 series in every way. Now, not only does ATI have the two most powerful single graphics cards in the world, its new cards are also more power efficient. On top of that, the new ATI Radeon HD 5000 series is DirectX 11 compatible, something the GeForce GTX 200 series lacks.

Of course, one could say that it is unfair to compare the two because the Radeon HD 5000 series represents a new generation of cards for ATI, but let's not forget that it was NVIDIA who continuously delayed its next-gen Fermi. Right now, Fermi is slated for a March launch, but if past experiences are anything to go by, we won't be surprised if Fermi is delayed yet again. In any case, for our qualification window, these are the best offered by both camps and the results speak for themselves.

Graphics Cards / Ratings	ATI Radeon 5000 Series	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 200 Series
Performance	9.5	8.0
Features	9.0	8.5
Value	9.0	7.5
Overall	9.5	8.0

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best High-end ATI Graphics Card

Boasting class-leading performance and power efficiency, the new Radeon HD 5000 series is perhaps ATI's best yet. And amongst the various SKUs, the Radeon HD 5870 is the most impressive.
Powered by the monstrous Cypress XT graphics chip boasting 1600 stream processors, the Radeon HD 5870 is presently the world's fastest single GPU graphics card. It's a lightning-fast graphics card, but while most Radeon HD 5870 cards are equal, some are more equal than others. With that in mind, we attempt to find out which is the best of the best.

Nominees

• ASUS EAH5870
• PowerColor HD 5870
• Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X

And the Winner is

The Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X is our best High-end ATI graphics card.

It is not unusual that immediately following the launch of a high-end graphics card, what's available to users are reference versions of the card. Of all the three, the ASUS EAH5870 and PowerColor HD 5870 both employ ATI's reference design. ASUS tries to differentiate itself from the competition with its Smart Doctor tweaking utility, but it is the Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X that steals the show.

Armed with a custom-designed Vapor-X vapor chamber technology cooler, the Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X also comes factory-overclocked. At at time when one Radeon HD 5870 card is no different from the other, the Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X is decidedly unique and special.

Graphics Cards / Ratings	ASUS EAH5870	PowerColor HD 5870	Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X
Performance	8.5	8.5	9.0
Features	8.0	7.5	8.5
Value	8.5	8.0	8.5
Overall	8.0	8.0	9.0
Price	S$619	S$619	S$689

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best High-end NVIDIA Graphics Card

3D is all the rage these days, thanks to a recent boom in 3D movies. And while ATI's latest Evergreen series of graphics cards is undoubtedly fast and feature-packed, ATI does not have a 3D solution. NVIDIA, on the other hand, offers true 3D gaming by way of its innovative GeForce 3D Vision kit.
Now NVIDIA might be reeling from their inability to push out its next-generation DirectX 11 compatible Fermi cards, but if 3D gaming is what you want, there's still only NVIDIA to turn to. And amongst all of NVIDIA offerings, the GeForce GTX 285 stands tallest and proudest. After all, it was once the fastest single chip graphics card in the world, and even today, it is by no means slow.
On that note, in our hunt for the best high-end GeForce GTX 285 graphics card, we'll be turning our attention towards some of the biggest names in the hardware industry.

Nominees

• ASUS GTX285 Matrix
• Galaxy GeForce GTX 285 OC with AC Edition
• MSI N285GTX SuperPipe OC
• Palit GeForce GTX 285
• Zotac GeForce GTX 285 AMP! Edition

And the Winner is

The Galaxy GeForce GTX 285 OC with AC Edition is our best high-end NVIDIA graphics card.

With so many big names, the competition was indeed intense, but our overall pick of the bunch has to be the impressive Galaxy GeForce GTX 285 OC with AC Edition. In stock form, it might not be as quick as the aggressively factory-overclocked Zotac card, but thanks to its massive cooler, we were able to push it the furthest in our overclocking tests. Additionally, in terms of operating temperatures, it was by far the coolest. But the ultimate deal sweetener is its price. At around S$469, only the Palit card is more affordable, but considering what the Galaxy card offers, we think it is a real steal.

Scoring Breakdown

Graphics Cards / Ratings	ASUS GTX285 Matrix	Galaxy GeForce GTX 285 OC with AC Edition	MSI N285GTX SuperPipe OC	Palit GeForce GTX 285	Zotac GeForce GTX 285 AMP! Edition
Performance	7.0	9.5	8.5	7.5	8.5
Features	8.0	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5
Value	6.0	9.0	7.5	8.0	8.5
Overall	6.5	9.5	8.5	7.5	8.0
Price	S$609	S$469	S$599	S$449	S$523

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 3.5-inch Internal HDD

No amount of hard drive capacity is ever enough in this digital age and for this reason, we chose the top capacity 2TB drives for the best 3.5-inch internal HDD showdown. Only the three leading hard drive manufacturers have the technological prowess to produce these high capacity drives and we've got all of them.

Nominees

• Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB
• Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB
• Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB

And the Winner is

The WD Caviar Black (2TB) is our best 3.5-inch internal HDD.

Seagate came out with an interesting SATA 6Gbps interface drive, the world's first in fact, but it was no better than running on 3Gbps interface. Fortunately it's not expensive. That said, for internal hard drives, performance plays a very big factor and that the WD drive delivered plenty. It might be the most expensive, but it's also the most advanced, well specced and not to mention the speediest of the lot. For enthusiasts who need speed and capacity, the WD Caviar Black 2TB is our recommended choice for the best 3.5-inch internal HDD. Below are a couple of choice benchmarks to represent some of our findings. Take note that we've bolstered the results with many other comparisons such as older drives and even an SSD drive for reference.

Scoring Breakdown for 2TB Hard Drives

Criteria/Model	Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000	Seagate Barracuda XT	WD Caviar Black
Performance	7	8	9
Features	8	9	8.5
Value	8	8.5	7.5
Overall	7.5	8.0	8.5
Price	S$269	S$299	S$449

dsdFor more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best AIO Inkjet Printer

When it comes to choosing the best AIO inkjet printer, we narrowed our search to the best models from the major players in 2009 in the S$400 to 500 price range.

Nominees

• Canon MP996
• Epson TX550W
• HP Photosmart Premium Touchsmart C309
• Lexmark Prospect P208

And the Winner is

The Lexmark Prospect P208 is our best inkjet AIO printer.

Each of the printers does certain things well; the Canon MP996 prints photos fast, the Epson TX550W is the fastest document printer and the HP C309 does beautiful photos. But the Lexmark Prospect P208 won us over with its solid all-around performance, with its fast prints and built-in features like an automated document feeder and duplex printing, all for a decent price.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Canon MP996	Epson TX550W	HP Photosmart C309	Lexmark P209
Physique	9.0	7.0	9.0	8.0
Features	9.0	8.0	9.0	9.0
Performance	9.0	8.5	9.0	9.0
User-friendliness	9.5	8.0	9.0	9.5
Value	8.0	8.0	9.0	8.0
Overall	9.0	8.0	9.0	9.0
Price	S$549	S$368	S$369	S$329

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Semi-Pro DSLR Camera

For the Semi-Pro DSLR category, we restricted our scope to offerings in the S$3000 price range that weren't full-frame, yet offered higher-end functions like HD video recording. Of course the products should also be launched and available in our test window period between December 2008 and November 2009.

Nominees

• Canon EOS 7D
• Nikon D300s

And the Winner is

The Canon EOS 7D is our best semi-pro DSLR camera.

The Canon EOS 7D is one compelling camera for the photography enthusiast, with its fast eight frames per second continuous shooting speed, flexible AF, impressive low-noise performance at high ISO settings and large 18MP-sized photos. That fast continuous shooting speed is a real draw for sports photography enthusiasts who don't need to shoot full-frame or have a tighter budget.

The 7D is also an attractive offer for videographers, offering Full HD 1080p video capture at an affordable price. The small body of the 7D compared to a larger, more expensive and heavier professional HD camcorder lets the videographer shoot more flexibly and travel lighter. Plus the large range of available DSLR lenses gives more options to shoot with.
The solid, weather-sealed build ensures that this is one camera you can confidently bring with you where you want to go, and the well-placed controls makes shooting with this camera a pleasure. From all angles, the Canon EOS 7D is a sure winner.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Canon EOS 7D	Nikon D300s
Physique	8.0	9.0
Features	9.5	8.0
User-friendliness	8.5	9.0
Performance	9.5	8.5
Value	10.0	7.5
Overall	9.0	8.5
Price	S$2699 - 3249	S$2999

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Entry-Level DSLR Camera

For our entry-level DSLR category, we were looking at models that offer beginners an easy introduction to photography while providing decent performance and features. At the same time, the prices have to be reasonable, without having them to break a sweat over the cost.

Nominees

• Nikon D3000
• Olympus E-450
• Sony Alpha 330

And the Winner is

The Sony Alpha 330 is our best entry-level DSLR camera.

While it might be the heaviest out of the three, the Sony Alpha 330 looks, well, the tackiest, given its predominantly plastic build. However, it compensates by being the most user-friendly. Aside from the standard interface, it comes with illustrations (for example, the range of available shutter speed is represented at the slow end with a stationary figure, while the fast end is depicted with a running figure which makes it easy for beginners), with elaborate explanations to boot.

It is also the only one with a cool tilting LCD screen that accommodates shooting at difficult levels and has a built-in sensor shift that changes accordingly depending on whether you are shooting in portrait or landscape.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Nikon D3000	Olympus E-450	Sony Alpha 330
Physique	8.0	8.5	7.5
Features	8.0	8.5	8.0
User-friendliness	8.0	8.0	8.5
Performance	7.0	7.0	8.0
Value	7.0	8.5	8.0
Overall	7.0	8.0	8.0
Price	S$988	S$888 (Single Lens Kit) S$1048 (Twin Lens Kit)	S$899

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Point & Shoot Digital Camera

With so many different models and specifications for point & shoot digital cameras, we narrowed it down to similar-sized compacts around the S$500 price range that can shoot at around 12MP resolutions and had a maximum of 5x optical zoom.

Nominees

• Canon IXUS 120 IS
• Nikon COOLPIX S70
• Olympus Mju 7020
• Panasonic Lumix FX65
• Samsung ST550
• Sony Cyber-shot WX1

And the Winner is

The Panasonic Lumix FX65 is our best point & shoot digital camera .

The Panasonic FX65 shoots beautiful pictures, with rich, lively colors, with an appealing retrospective design and a fast, responsive shutter. The auto-focus system is one of the best we've used on a compact point and shoot. It's great at finding the right points of focus and locating and tracking faces. It handles like a charm with its intelligent features, a powerful image stabilizer and comfortable buttons, making it easy for anyone to simply point and shoot. In the end, it's easy to choose the Panasonic FX65 as the deserving winners for this category.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Canon IXUS 120 IS	Nikon COOLPIX S70	Olympus Mju 7020	Panasonic Lumix FX65	Samsung ST550	Sony Cyber-shot WX1
Physique	8.0	6.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	7.0
Features	8.0	7.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	7.0
Performance	9.5	7.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	8.0
User-friendliness	8.5	6.0	7.0	9.0	7.0	7.0
Value	9.0	7.0	7.0	9.0	7.0	7.0
Overall	9.0	7.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	7.0
Price	S$499	S$599	S$468	S$549	S$549	S$599

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Digital Video Camcorder

When looking for the best digital camcorder, we selected and evaluated the highest-end models of the major brands that could do 1080p HD video recording.

Nominees

• Canon LEGRIA HF S11
• JVC Everio GZ-HD320
• Panasonic HDC-HS300
• Samsung HMX-H105
• Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1
• Sony Handycam HDR-XR520

And the Winner is

The Canon LEGRIA HF S11 is our best digital video camcorder.

The LEGRIA HF S11 is the newest flagship HD camcorder from Canon and an evolutionary upgrade to the HF S10. It adds double the internal memory at 64GB, a new Dynamic Image Optical Stabilizer and Instant AF, while keeping the same large 1/2.6" sensor and form factor.

Image quality from photos and videos is excellent with the HF S11 and its larger sensor - the largest yet found in Canon camcorders. The new image stabilizer also adds a dash more stability to your shots. Audio capture is sharp and the HF S11 separates background noise well.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Canon LEGRIA HF S11	JVC Everio GZ-HD320	Panasonic HDC-HS300	Samsung HMX-H105	Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1	Sony Handycam HDR-XR520
Physique	8.5	8.0	9.0	8.0	7.0	8.5
Features	9.0	8.0	9.0	8.0	7.0	9.5
Performance	9.0	7.0	8.5	8.0	7.0	9.0
User-friendliness	9.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	7.0	9.0
Value	8.0	7.0	9.0	9.0	7.0	8.0
Overall	9.0	7.0	9.0	8.0	7.0	9.0
Price	S$2899	S$1849	S$2199	S$1149	S$1799	S$2899

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Portable Business Projectors

We looked at entry-level multimedia projectors that were in the S$2000, 3000 lumens, 1024 x 768 resolution range, with similar sizes and weight around 3kg that could still be ported around.

Nominees

• Canon LV7370
• Epson EB-825
• InFocus IN3104
• NEC NP610
• Viewsonic PJD6241

And the Winner is

The NEC NP610 is our best portable business projector.

The NEC NP610 performs beautifully; as a strong multimedia projector, it does double-duty for stills and moving images. Its presentations are sharp; it projects a large, bright screen that can be seen even with the lights on. Movies are clear and onboard sound is a surprising delight - loud and vibrant.

Where you might have to depend on external speakers in the past, the NP610 lets you share a multimedia presentation in the boardroom with just one device. Like most NEC projectors, the NP610 comes in a clean, white body that will be loved by minimalists everywhere. The controls are conveniently arranged and easy to use too.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Canon LV7370	Epson EB-825	InFocus IN3104	NEC NP610	Viewsonic PJD6241
Physique	9.0	8.0	9.0	9.0	8.0
Features	9.0	9.0	9.0	9.0	9.0
Performance	8.0	9.5	8.0	9.0	7.0
User-friendliness	9.0	9.0	7.0	9.0	8.0
Value	9.0	9.0	7.0	8.0	7.0
Overall	9.0	9.0	8.0	9.0	8.0
Price	S$1899	S$1999	S$2699	S$2199	S$1499

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best LED-backlit LCD TV

Before the 3D craze sweeping TV vendors recently, the buzz in the HDTV scene was with LED-backlit TVs. As opposed to conventional CCFL backlit screens, LED-backlit LCD TVs have the luxury of being slimmer, cooler and more energy efficient, but with a higher price tag due to its more demanding manufacturing costs. Two of the more notable LED backlit technologies are Direct and EDGE LED backlights.
However it's only recently that TV manufacturers have found a way to incorporate local dimming with EDGE LED technology. For our roundup, we managed to pick all three known types, Direct, EDGE, and the more recent EDGE LEDs with local dimming, for our Tech Awards nominees. We restricted the TV size in this comparison to mid-sized screens between 40 to 46 inches across as identical screen sizes were not available from all brands.

Nominees

• LG SL90 (42-inch)
• Philips LED LUX (42-inch)
• Samsung B7000 (40-inch)
• Sony BRAVIA X4500 (46-inch)

And the Winner is

The Sony BRAVIA X4500 is our best LED-backlit LCD TV.

Sony's BRAVIA X4500 isn't much for looks and features. What matters though, is that Sony has thrown all of its weight into the TV's video processing. Powered by direct RGB Dynamic LED lights with local dimming capabilities and blessed with a new DRC-MF V3 chip, the X4500's panel shone on both Blu-ray and DVD platforms. The X4500's black levels and crispness runs above and unparalleled among the four. Based on what our eyes have seen, you can't really question this exemplary Full HD display.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	LG SL90	Philips LUX	Samsung B7000	Sony BRAVIA X4500
Physique	9.0	8.5	9.0	8.5
Features	8.5	9.0	9.0	8.5
Performance	8.5	8.0	9.0	9.5
Value	9.0	8.0	8.5	8.5
Overall	8.5	8.0	9.0	9.0
Price	S$3999	S$5999	S$5399	S$5499

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Blu-ray Player

The Sony PS3 console is widely regarded as a one-size-fits-all solution for HD gaming and Blu-ray playback but AV enthusiasts would prefer to own a dedicated Blu-ray deck if gaming isn't their forte.
Besides evaluating their high-definition processing muscle, we've also set these players through the paces to see how well they upscale DVD content on a 1080p screen. Supplementary features like widgets are nice to have, but our eyes are still hawked on their visual capabilities ultimately. For this comparison, we optes

Nominees

• LG BD370
• Panasonic DMP-BD60
• Philips BDP7500
• Pioneer BDP-120
• Samsung BD-P1600
• Sony BDP-S360

And the Winner is

The LG BD370 is our best Blu-ray player.

We didn't expect LG's BD370 to snatch this. However, quality shouldn't be denied its fruits. This Korean deck doesn't flaunt the sweetest design, yet it won us over with its set of features like a YouTube app, comprehensive multimedia support and easy usability. Comparatively, its video processing capabilities were only second to Sony's. All things considered, LG has produced a winner with the BD370 in the features department as well as overall BD and DVD performance arena.

Criteria/Model	LG BD370	Panasonic DMP-BD60	Philips BDP7500	Pioneer BDP-120	Samsung BD-P1600	Sony BDP-S360
Physique	9.0	8.5	9.0	7.5	8.0	9.0
Features	9.0	9.0	8.5	8.5	9.0	8.0
Performance	9.0	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	9.0
Value	8.0	8.0	8.5	8.0	8.5	9.5
Overall	9.0	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.0	9.0
Price	S$599	S$549	S$499	S$599	S$499	S$399

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best HD Media Player

In this category, we selected and tested the most versatile multimedia HD players capable of 720 and 1080p HD playback from the various major vendors.

Nominees

• DViCO TViX M-6600N HD Media Player
• Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player
• QNAP NMP1000 HD Media Player
• Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD Media Player
• Western Digital TV Live HD Media Player

And the Winner is

The Western Digital TV Live HD gets our vote for the best HD media player.

The Western Digital TV Live HD Media Player wins due to its small form factor that does not compromise on connectivity options and quality. It has support for both component and composite AV out, dual USB ports (for flash drives and external HDDs), optical, HDMI and Ethernet. From the menu, it allows users to Copy, Move and Delete files, with options to view YouTube videos (full screen), tag and search recently uploaded photos on Flickr, listen to music from Live365.com as well as Pandora Internet Radio. Though it lacks a Seek (Go To) option and fast forward is only up to 16x (norm is up to 32x), it more than makes up for it with its portability.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	DViCO TViX M-6600N	Iomega ScreenPlay Director	QNAP NMP1000	Seagate FreeAgent Theater	Western Digital TV Live
Physique	7.5	7.5	7.5	8.5	9.5
Features	8.5	7.5	8.5	8.5	8.5
Performance	9.0	8.0	7.0	8.0	9.0
User-friendliness	7.5	6.0	7.0	6.5	7.5
Value	7.5	8.0	7.5	9.0	9.0
Overall	8.0	7.5	8.0	8.0	9.0
Price	S$699 (1TB HDD included)	S$289 (1TB HDD included)	S$599	S$199	S$179

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Mainstream Notebook

Intel's new Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) processor based platform looks set to be a fast growing market - with notebooks weighing in at well under 2kg while delivering whole day usage at affordable prices being a draw for consumers. We take a look at the various 13-inch models to see which unit is worth your consideration and cash.

Nominees

• Acer Timeline 3810t
• Dell Inspiron 13z
• HP Pavilion DM3
• Lenovo IdeaPad U350
• LG T380
• MSI X-Slim X340
• Toshiba Portege T130

And the Winner is

The Acer Timeline 3810t is our best mainstream notebook.

It's no wonder why the Acer Timeline 3810t tops our list for this category, thanks to its impressive design and build, coupled with hardware that's different from the rest with the inclusion of switchable discrete graphics. Unlike the other Intel CULV notebooks that rely on the integrated graphics, you're quite capable doing light 3D gaming on the Acer unit and the discrete option does help with a better performance score in our benchmark tests.

Criteria/Model	Acer Timeline 3810t	Dell Inspiron 13z	HP Pavilion DM3	Lenovo IdeaPad U350	LG T380	MSI X-Slim X340	Toshiba Portege T130
Physique	8.5	7.5	8.5	7.5	8.5	8.5	8.0
Features	9.0	8.5	8.0	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.0
Performance	8.5	8.0	8.0	7.0	8.0	7.0	7.5
User-friendliness	8.5	7.5	8.5	8.0	8.0	7.5	7.0
Value	8.5	8.0	8.5	8.5	7.5	7.5	8.0
Overall	9.0	8.0	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0
Price	S$1999	S$1399	S$1599	S$1199	S$1699	S$1088	S$1699

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 10-inch Netbook

Unless you've been living under a rock for months, netbooks have been quite the rage among consumers looking for a cheap machine to use on the go. So the question is, which 10-inch netbook is deserving of your hard earned cash?

Nominees

• Acer Aspire One D250
• ASUS Eee PC 1008HA
• Fujitsu M2010
• Gigabyte Book Top M1022M
• HP Mini 110
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2
• LG X120
• MSI Wind U123H
• Samsung N120
• Toshiba NB200

And the Winner is

The LG X120 is our best 10.1-inch netbook.

We were quite as surprised as you by the results as we were expecting a winner from the more established netbook brands. LG may not be well known for its computing products, but its LG X120 strikes the right chord with its delightful design and solid performance. Tag on the LG Smart ON function and an option for built-in 3G modem and it should be no surprise why the LG X120 takes the top spot.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Physique	Features	Performance	User-friendliness	Value	Overall	Price
Acer Aspire One D250	7.0	7.0	8.0	8.0	9.0	8.0	S$688
ASUS Eee PC 1008HA	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	S$798
Fujitsu M2010	8.0	8.5	8.0	8.0	7.5	8.0	S$888
Gigabyte Book Top M1022M	8.0	8.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.5	S$788
HP Mini 110	9.0	8.0	7.0	8.0	9.0	8.5	S$699
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2	8.0	8.5	8.0	8.0	9.0	8.5	S$699
LG X120	8.5	9.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.5	S$999 (with 3G) / S$799
MSI Wind U123H	8.0	9.0	8.0	8.0	8.5	8.0	S$888 (with 3G) / S$674
Samsung N120	8.5	8.5	8.0	8.5	7.5	8.5	S$799
Toshiba NB200	8.0	8.0	8.0	7.5	7.5	8.0	S$749

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Smartphone

The nominees for the Best Smartphone award are selected based on one simple consideration: the ability to do it all. The selection process also includes a look at the nominees' hardware and software features, its ease of usage and its mobile mileage.

Nominees

• Apple iPhone 3GS
• HTC Hero
• Nokia N97
• RIM BlackBerry Storm
• Samsung Omnia HD
• LG BL40 Chocolate

And the Winner is

Apple's iPhone 3GS is our best smartphone of the year.

Armed with the standard hardware features seen on most smartphones of today, the iPhone 3GS is also equipped with an updated iPhone OS 3.0 and improved HSDPA speeds. The real show stopper is its intuitive user interface and multitude of apps from the iTunes App Store. It's not just the phone; it's the whole accompanying package that made this Apple device the best smartphone of 2009.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Apple iPhone 3GS	HTC Hero	Nokia N97	RIM BlackBerry Storm	Samsung Omnia HD	LG BL40 Chocolate
Physique	9.0	8.0	8.0	7.0	8.0	8.0
Features	9.5	9.5	9.0	8.0	9.0	8.0
Performance	9.5	9.5	7.5	6.5	8.5	8.5
User-friendliness	9.5	9.5	8.0	6.0	8.0	8.0
Value	8.5	8.0	8.5	7.0	9.0	7.5
Overall	9.5	9.0	8.0	6.5	8.5	8.0
Price	Contract-based	S$898	S$1028	Contract-based	S$1098	S$988

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Camera Mobile Phone

Even mobile phones are not spared the megapixel race. For this year's Tech Awards, we shortlisted the following devices sporting 8-megapixel and 12-megapixel sensors, with a wide variety of imaging feature such as Smile Detection and Image Stabilizer to contend for the title of the Best Camera mobile phone.

Nominees

• LG Viewty Smart
• Nokia N86
• Samsung Pixon 12
• Sony Ericsson Satio

And the Winner is

The Samsung Pixon 12 takes our best camera mobile phone award.

Getting great shots from a camera phone isn't exactly an easy task, and that's where the Samsung Pixon 12 managed to excel with its 12-megapixel sensor and TouchWiz user interface. The Pixon 12 proved to be a smooth and swift experience for the user. More importantly, producing sharp and detailed images and having great color control gave the Pixon 12 the edge, making it the undisputed leader in the camera phone segment.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	LG Viewty Smart	Nokia N86	Samsung Pixon 12	Sony Ericsson Satio
Physique	8.5	6.5	9.0	8.5
Features	8.0	7.0	9.0	9.0
Performance	7.5	7.5	9.0	8.5
User-friendliness	8.0	7.0	8.5	8.0
Value	8.5	7.5	9.0	8.5
Overall	8.0	7.5	9.0	8.5
Price	S$738	S$808	S$998	S$1098

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Lifestyle Mobile Phone

A mobile phone is somewhat an identity that you carry, so it's imperative that you have the best looking mobile phone to match your fashion sense. The Best Lifestyle Mobile Phone is short listed based on its aesthetic appeal, with a balanced mix of features that still makes it undeniably a practical mobile device.

Nominees

• Apple iPhone 3GS
• HTC Tattoo
• LG GD900 Crystal
• Nokia E72
• Samsung Jet S8000
• Sony Ericsson Jalou

And the Winner is

The Nokia E72 is our best lifestyle mobile phone.

The Nokia E72 inherits all the beauty and sleekness of its predecessor, and manages to keep its performance up to par. The feather light and eye-catching device doesn't scrimp on its performance either, with faster HSDPA speeds, increased processing power and better multimedia support with its 3.5mm audio port. In short, it's possible to look good and do everything from your phone, making the Nokia E72 the perfect choice for the fashion conscious, and the winner for Best Lifestyle Mobile Phone.

Scoring Breakdown

Criteria/Model	Apple iPhone 3GS	HTC Tattoo	LG GD900 Crystal	Nokia E72	Samsung Jet S8000	Sony Ericsson Jalou
Physique	9.0	8.0	8.0	9.0	8.0	6.5
Features	9.5	8.5	8.0	9.5	8.0	7.5
Performance	9.5	8.0	7.0	9.5	8.0	7.5
User-friendliness	9.5	9.0	7.0	9.5	8.0	7.0
Value	8.5	8.5	7.0	9.0	7.5	7.5
Overall	9.5	8.5	7.5	9.5	8.0	7.0
Price	Contract-based	S$598	S$888	S$750	S$698	S$438

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.