8. Dell XPS M2010

Sporting a cutting-edge design, the Dell XPS M2010 (starting price US$2999) makes a bold and immediate statement. Not quite a desktop and definitely less portable than a standard notebook, this hybrid system neatly balances elements of both. You get a 20.1-inch screen, a slot-loading DVD drive, and a detachable, full-size Bluetooth keyboard, plus an integrated Webcam, eight built-in speakers, and a subwoofer. Powering this entertainment system are ATI graphics, an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, and up to 4GB of RAM. It also folds up into a briefcase-like bundle, complete with a handle--but it weighs a hefty 18-plus pounds.

9. Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB

With the growing popularity of video and music files in the past few years, storage capacity once again became an issue for PCs as hard drives' conventional longitudinal recording technology reached its limit. Enter perpendicular magnetic recording technology, which allows vendors to pack more data onto one platter than in the traditional approach. Laptops were the first to benefit from drives with the new technology, followed shortly by our pick, the US$400 750GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 desktop model. Not only does this drive boast the highest capacity we've seen in a single desktop disk, but it outperforms standard drives--especially in write tests and on tasks that involve sustained throughput with sizable files.

10. T-Mobile Dash

The slim Motorola Q brought a usable QWERTY keyboard to Windows Mobile smart phones--and then the T-Mobile Dash came along and got the rest of the package right. Combining a stylish, super-thin design with sculpted keys that correct the deficiencies we found on the Q, and offering both cellular service and integrated wireless capabilities, the Dash makes a great impression. You also get a 1.3-megapixel camera and a miniSD slot for expansion in this 4.2-ounce handset, and it's an affordable US$250 with a two-year contract. Our minor pet peeves: The device's software bundle isn't as robust as that of some of its competitors, and its built-in user-accessible memory is a paltry 23MB.

11. Pioneer Inno

Satellite radio reaches a new level of portability with Pioneer's US$299 Inno XM Radio receiver. Earlier devices simply recorded snippets of radio shows. This is a real live-radio receiver that can record and store songs, too, and it lets you bookmark tunes you want to buy later. (Samsung's Helix, which we didn't test, is a nearly identical model.)

12. Farecast

Lots of sites help you find the best airfares if you're buying tickets right now. But what looks like a great deal one day can seem overpriced the next. Farecast tracks fares over time, telling you whether prices are likely to go up or down over the next week.

13. Sony BWU-100A Blu-Ray Disc Rewritable Drive

Sony's US$750 BWU-100A wasn't the first internal Blu-ray Disc burner we saw (that honour went to Pioneer's US$1000 BDR-100A), but it offers the most complete package at the best price, and unlike some others it can write to both 25GB single-layer and 50GB dual-layer discs.