entry-level

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have similar queries, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Question: I've never had a cell phone in my life. I know that's hard to believe! But I just never saw the need for one -- landlines have been just fine for me. I don't need to be in constant contact all the time. Recently though, I've received some pressure to get one. I just feel like I really don't need it, but maybe a temporary one is ok. Is there maybe a phone I can get that I can only use every once in awhile, that doesn't require a plan? Thanks! -- Beau, via email.

This might come as a shocker coming from a cell phone reviewer, but I don't necessarily think everyone in the world must get a cell phone. If your lifestyle is such that you don't need it, I don't see the problem of not having one. However, it does make life a lot more convenient, and it tends to be cheaper if you make a lot of mobile-to-mobile or long-distance calls.

You can get cheap and disposable phones if you want something temporary, especially if you go the prepaid route. Virgin Mobile's payLo service, for example, offers cheap $15 phones and the basic service only costs $20 for 400 minutes. If you lapse payment, however, it's likely that your phone number will expire, so you might have to keep reupping every month or so to keep the number alive. But if you really only need a phone every once in awhile -- like on vacations -- then maybe you don't care so much about changing your number. Readers, please let us know of other alternatives that Beau can consider.… Read more

Canon all but abandoned optical viewfinders on its PowerShot cameras; the high-end G12 was the only one. That changed at CES 2011, though, with the announcement of the Canon PowerShot A1200, an entry-level point-and-shoot with a real-image zoom viewfinder.

Along with the viewfinder, this budget-friendly 12-megapixel compact is powered by AA-size batteries, has a large selection of shooting options, uses an f2.8 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with a 4x zoom, and captures 720p HD-resolution movie clips. About the only thing missing is optical image stabilization, but you can counteract hand shake by using the viewfinder.

Like most cameras in its … Read more

Most people buying a $100 pocket camera don't seem to check for reviews before they buy. At least not "expert" reviews. Judging by CNET site traffic, though, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 appears to be an exception. It's the company's entry-level compact that basically exists for AA-battery lovers; the S2100 is the only current Sony camera powered by them.

The S2100 is very basic. Really, its main selling points are the batteries, a 3-inch LCD, and its general ease of use. (Why consumers can only get budget and megazoom cameras that use AA-size batteries, I don'… Read more

In our current roundup of retail-specific laptops, we've divided our 30-plus systems into four different price categories, from sub-$500 entry level models to high-end ones that cost more than $1,000.

In that entry level category, covering laptops up to $499, we looked at laptops from Toshiba, HP, Dell, and Asus. Diving below the $500 mark is always risky when buying anything other than a Netbook, and we found systems that ranged from brick-like to not-so-bad. The biggest difference was in the processors, where you could find anything from a painfully slow Intel Celeron 900 to a reasonably usable Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200.

We ended up with a near-tie between the $429 Dell i1545-012B, with an Intel dual-core CPU, and the similar Asus K50IJ-RX05, which won us over by offering a nicer design, more RAM, and a bigger hard drive for only $70 more.

Two important notes -- on this particular page we're *only* talking about retail-specific models that cost less than $499. For a roundup of retail laptops in all price ranges, check here; for our latest MacBook reviews, check here.

Check out details of each system below:… Read more

That's right--five speakers for $299--and we're not talking about one of those flyweight packages with itsy-bitsy speakers.

The Fluance SXHTB system features a pair of floor-standing tower speakers, a full-size center-channel speaker, and very decent two-way surround speakers. There's no subwoofer, but the Fluance towers make a lot more bass than tiny satellites, so some buyers won't need to add a sub. I reviewed this system for CNET in 2005, but it's still available.

I'm not claiming the system is a bona-fide giant killer or offers the sort of refined sound you'll find on much more expensive systems. But if you're on a limited budget and have the room for a full-size speaker set, the Fluance SXHTB's combination of credible sound quality and solid construction represent an amazing value.

The entire ensemble is finished in a durable natural beech vinyl wrap (the only finish option). The speakers' robust MDF wood construction cabinets are built to a high standard.

Standing 38.8 inches tall, the towers definitely qualify as full-size speakers, and each one weighs a hefty 33.4 pounds. Each tower's elegantly proportioned cabinet rests on an integrated base, which in turn features adjustable brass feet. The 15.8-wide center speaker is no less impressive, and the surround speakers, which also include bases, are wall-mountable. They're the babies of the package--just 8.8 inches high.

The towers feature dual 6.5-inch poly-coated woofers and a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter. The center channel speaker sports a pair of 4-inch poly-coated woofers and a 1-inch plastic tweeter, while the surround speakers include the same type of woofer and tweeter. All of the speakers are ported designs.… Read more

Shopping for a laptop under $600 is a bit like going for the half-priced, late-afternoon sushi special at your local deli--there's a certain risk versus reward calculation that has to occur.

While it's not going to win any awards for flair or style, this anonymous-looking 15-inch retail model from Hewlett-Packard offers the best combination of features and performance in its price range.

The $599 HP G60-235DX(part of our winter 2009 retail laptop review roundup) has a 16:9 display, an Intel Dual-Core CPU (many budget systems use slower AMD chips), and even squeezes in a separate number … Read more

Barely more expensive than a decently configured Netbook, the $449 Compaq Presario CQ60-215DXlooks like a good bargain at first, with its 16:9 screen and separate number pad, but this is a case where spending a little more can pay big dividends.

The AMD CPU gave us the overall slowest performance in the entry-level category of our current retail laptop roundup, and the battery lasted for less than two hours. Interestingly, this laptop is built into the exact same chassis as the HP G60-235dx, our favorite current entry-level retail laptop. For $599, that system gives you a faster Intel Dual-Core … Read more