Best of 2004
PC World editors and a team of tech gurus put their heads together to crown the year's top hardware, software, sites, and services.These days, when you're shopping for a new lightning-fast computer or a slick DVD recorder, you probably don't look to just one source for information. You read PC World (naturally!), but you also see what other tech pundits have to say, and you read reviews at Web sites dedicated to the equipment you want.
In this 22nd edition of the World Class Awards, we've taken care of that work for you. To choose the best that the world of technology has to offer, we tapped not only the expertise of our own editors and PC World Test Center analysts, but also the knowledge of a team of outside experts--industry analysts, reviewers, and leaders at specialty sites. We looked for hardware, software, and services with exemplary usability, design, innovation, features, performance, and value. After considering hundreds of candidates, we chose 68 winners, from powerful notebooks to versatile cameras to hassle-free remote access software.
This year, we're also establishing the World Class Hall of Fame. Which products get in? Only those that consistently show World Class qualities for many years. After all, being great once or twice is impressive, but being great over the long haul is truly exceptional.
Product of the Year
AMD Athlon 64 FX processor series
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
When you want top performance, the Athlon 64 FX line delivers. But these CPUs aren't important just because of the speed they give you today. The FX is the first desktop PC processor that will let you upgrade to 64-bit operating systems and applications as they appear in the next few years.
What will a 64-bit future mean to you? Smoother, faster video encoding, speedy rendering in complex programs such as AutoCAD, and movie-quality games.
The FX chip's other technical innovations include integrated memory controllers, larger caches, and a feature to help stop malicious worms.
Don't want to pay a premium for the FX? Then get the less powerful but more affordable Athlon 64 CPU.
Hall of Fame
IBM ThinkPad series
In the competitive PC industry, few products stay at the top for a year, let alone for over a decade. IBM's ThinkPad line earns our first Hall of Fame award because it has embodied World Class qualities--innovative design, excellent reliability, powerful features--since 1992. The first in the series, the ThinkPad 700, had revolutionary features such as a 10.4-inch screen and a red pointing device that became a signature element. Fast-forward 12 years to the current ThinkPad X40, crowned this year's best ultraportable notebook. It bears the same black case (though pleasantly slimmer), solid construction, and comfortable keyboard, and it has an improved eraserhead. Big Blue also backs its notebooks with stellar service. No wonder ThinkPads have been going strong--and winning World Class awards--since day one.
Loser of the Year
Smart Watches
A wristwatch that does wireless news, instant messaging, and reminders? We're not saying it's a bad idea. But the first watches based on Microsoft's SPOT technology--from Fossil (including a Dick Tracy model, at left) and Suunto--turned out to be as underwhelming as they were overhyped. Their interfaces are illogical. Their batteries last only a few days. If you venture far from home, you need to alert the MSN Direct service to continue to get relevant information. And Microsoft's ad blitz touted features that weren't available at first. Call these timepieces miracles of miniaturization: Rarely have so many hassles been packed into devices this small.
Software Newcomer of the Year
Apple makes Windows apps about as often as Microsoft ships bug-free products, and if ITunes for Windows (free) is any indication, that's a crying shame. The ITunes media player works on PCs the same way it does on Macs, right down to the handy feature that lets you share your music library with other PC or Mac ITunes users on your network. It looks great, it's easy to use, and it has a surprising number of useful features, like the abilities to generate rules-based Smart Playlists and to trim individual tracks.
Meanwhile, Apple's complementary ITunes Music Store (99 cents per track, album prices vary) started the party last year on subscription-free digital tunes, pioneering the 99-cents-per-track model that most online music stores now use. With easy navigation, an impressive exclusive track selection, and such innovative offerings as audiobooks and radio show archives, ITunes Music Store is going strong. Competitors like RealPlayer Music Store made this a tough choice, but it's hard to beat a store that's built into the best media player software around. We do have one major complaint: ITunes tracks are incompatible with digital audio players other than Apple's own IPod. How selfish!
Hardware Newcomer of the Year
PalmOne Treo 600
Not too big for a cell phone and not too small for a handheld, PalmOne's breakthrough Treo 600 ($450 to $699, depending on carrier and plan) has raised the bar for Palm/cell phone hybrids. We especially like the ease of single-handed phone use, the built-in VGA camera, and the small but usable domed keyboard that in many cases is smart enough to know when it's being used as a numeric keypad. Says IDC's Kevin Burden: "Everyone who has [a Treo 600] loves it. It's that rare product that has found a good balance between delivering the functionality that comes with a PDA with a design that is as close as it can be to a mobile phone."
Computers
General-Purpose PC
The 4600 line continues Dell's tradition of building strong-performing systems that can be configured to your liking. Dell's range of processors, optical drives, sound systems, and other components let you get a basic or decked-out PC for a reasonable price. $749 to $1500
Performance PC
Alienware Aurora Extreme FX 53
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
You want fast? The AMD Athlon 64 FX-53-based Aurora Extreme obliterated the competition in our tests, notching the fastest-ever PC WorldBench 4 score of 150. Though pricey, our test system (with CRT monitor and speakers) costs less than similar PCs from fellow elite builders Voodoo PC and Falcon Northwest. $4619
Specialty PC
A model of elegant design, the Hush ATX is the first PC to combine good performance and quiet operation. Using today's mainstream processors (we tested a 2.8-GHz Intel Pentium 4-based unit), the Hush ATX uses a unique heat pipe system to dissipate heat through its aluminum-finned case, eliminating the need for noisy fans. Available in business or media-savvy configurations, the Hush ATX should be welcome anywhere silence is golden. $2264
Desktop Replacement Notebook
Toshiba Satellite P25
Toshiba's Satellite P25 tips the scales at over 10 pounds, but its large frame holds lots of features. It blends entertainment (with a beautiful 17-inch wide-screen LCD, fantastic sound, and Windows XP Media Center), speed (courtesy of a 3.2-GHz Pentium 4), and flexibility (with 80GB of storage and a DVD burner that supports all DVD formats). This powerful configuration makes the P25 the ideal desktop replacement. $2599
Ultraportable Notebook
IBM ThinkPad X40
With the ThinkPad X40, IBM has perfected the ultraportable. Not only is it extremely thin--barely an inch top to bottom when closed--but it weighs a mere 2.8 pounds. Despite its small size, the X40 has a comfortable keyboard and a bright, sharp 12.1-inch screen. Powered by a low-voltage 1-GHz Pentium M processor, the X40 turns in sprightly performance to boot. $2024
Tablet PC
Toshiba Portégé M200
A notebook with a twist (that is, the screen twists and folds flat onto the keyboard), the Portégé M200 series lets you use a digitizing pen to jot down notes at meetings, or you can type on it as if it were a traditional notebook. Microsoft's OneNote software is included, for keeping your scribbled notes organized. $2199
Bare Necessities
Operating System
Apple Mac OS X Panther 10.3
Panther's sleek interface and reliable performance are impressive. Although we aren't suggesting that you ditch your hardware and buy a Mac, Apple deserves credit for raising the bar for OSs. And we hope Microsoft is paying attention as it works on the next Windows. $129
Input Device
Logitech DiNovo Media Desktop
Finally, devices that put some teeth into Bluetooth. This suite of Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, mouse, and MediaPad (similar to a number pad) combines elegant design with high-end functionality. The MediaPad sports a small LCD to show what's playing, and has buttons to control music and video. $250
Router/Gateway
Netgear WGT624 108 MBPS Wireless Firewall Router
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
Hassle-free setup and swift performance--thanks to accelerated G technology that can push data at 108 megabits per second, twice the throughput rate of the 802.11g standard--distinguish the WGT624. But what really sold us are its generous security and privacy features. $85
Web Browser
An alternative browser without the bloat, according to Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, Opera 7.23 is a fleet-footed package that provides innovative ways to view, analyze, and store Web pages. Opera's security options are strong and easy to configure. The beta for version 7.5 looks promising, too. Free ($39 without the ad banner)
Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Some users might consider Outlook's cornucopia of features overkill, but this PIM's e-mail client is excellent, especially for the corporate set. Version 2003's spam filters kept out virtually all of our test junk mail. $85
Search Engine
Other search engines are giving Google a run for its dominance, but so far none have surpassed it in accuracy and versatility. Free
Stand-Alone Utility
ExplorerPlus puts Windows Explorer to shame, thanks to features such as built-in file viewers, data management tools, and horizontal or vertical multipane folder views. $40
Utility Suite
V Communications SystemSuite 5
SystemSuite 5 packs hardware diagnostics, an application uninstaller, a lost data rescuer, and other practical tools into one CD. But some of the apps are inferior versions of the company's stand-alone programs. $60
Personal Finance
Money's free services (such as two years' worth of bill-pay service) and excellent finance tools make it a better choice than its perennial competitor, Intuit's Quicken. $80
Business Accounting
ACCPAC Simply Accounting 2004 Pro
A great price, a direct-deposit tool, and easy integration with Excel make Simply Accounting tough to beat. $99
Security
Antivirus Software
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2004
PC-cillin outperformed the competition at removing infections, and its neat interface lets you access components easily. $49
Firewall
Continuing to set the standard in the firewall category, ZoneAlarm Pro blocks most incoming and outgoing e-mail viruses, manages cookies, and stops pop-up ads. $50
Spam Filter
SpamNet delivered a catch rate of 98 percent and an uncanny ability not to block legitimate mail. Use it for Outlook and Web-based, POP3, or IMAP e-mail. $4 a month
Privacy Software
Let Privacy Bird gauge the privacy level of any site with a machine-readable privacy policy. At sites that guard your information, the bird is a calming green. At sites set up to sell your data, the bird turns an angry red. Free
Anti-Spyware Scanner
Search & Destroy scrapes bothersome software from your PC as you would barnacles from the underside of a boat. Free
Storage
Internal Hard Drive
The 7200-rpm Deskstar 7K400 provides 400GB of storage and some of the fastest performance we've seen in a desktop drive. $400
External Hard Drive
With an excellent combination of capacity, features, and performance, the One Touch 250GB is the best choice for backing up your PC and expanding your storage easily. $300
Ultraportable Hard Drive
The Porsche-designed Data Bank is one of the few small hard drives that can fit in a shirt pocket. Available in both 20GB and 40GB capacities, the 5.7-ounce hard drive draws all the power it requires from a USB 2.0 or FireWire cable. $349
Rewritable DVD Drive
The speedy PX-712A is the first drive to write at 12X to DVD+R media and the first to write to CD-R at 48X. $200
DVD Burning Suite
Roxio Easy Media Creator 7
This suite offers above-average task integration and all the CD/DVD mastering and DVD authoring tools you need. $99
USB Flash Drive
PowerHouse Technologies Migo 256MB
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
Migo's on-board data management and synchronization software make parting with your desktop easier. $200
Backup Software
StompSoft BackUp MyPC 5 Deluxe
BackUp MyPC provides a logical interface, a disaster recovery tool, and the ultimate in set-and-forget automation. $60
Digital Imaging
Digital SLR Camera
Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
It's what photo enthusiasts were waiting for: a lightweight digital SLR that mere mortals can afford. Though the Rebel was the first sub-$1000 digital SLR, it's no longer alone. Nikon's D70 carries a similarly modest price, but the Canon is the better of the two. $999
Advanced Digital Camera
Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom
The C-8080 has a sweet combination of advanced controls and an intelligent design that makes it a pleasure to use. "Its image quality will satisfy even the pros," says Steve Sanders of Steves-Digicams.com. We agree: It earned top scores in our photo-quality tests. One knock is that the 5X zoom is short for its class. $899
Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1
The 5.1-megapixel W1 has almost everything you'd want in a point-and-shoot: low cost, small size, an impressive 2.5-inch LCD, fast startup, and a quick trigger. The photos we took looked sharp, colorful, and true-to-life. $400
Photo-Management Software
Adobe Photoshop Album 2
Every photo organizer we've seen brims with features--tagging, fixing, burning, and sharing. Choosing the best among a strong lot wasn't easy, but we like Photoshop Album 2's beautiful interface; its snazzy, unique tagging system; and its sophisticated online photo gallery tool. But the program is a little slower than we would like. $50
Image Editing Software
Adobe Photoshop CS
Just as it's easy to pick a Porsche as a world-class sports car, it's easy to pick Photoshop as our World Class image editor. Handy new layers management, an improved file browser, a creativity-enhancing filters browser, and expanded 16-bit editing capabilities are only a few of its improvements. A hidden gem: the Shadow/Highlights tool buried in the Image, Adjustments menu. $649
Photo Printer
Canon i960
In addition to printing glossy photos quickly, the Canon i960 produces sharp text and attractive color graphics on plain paper. It lets you print directly from a PictBridge-compatible digital camera, and a paper feed accommodates 4-by-6-inch photo paper. $200
Scanner
Canon CanoScan 9900F
Want to make quality scans without having to master arcane software? The CanoScan 9900F delivers great-looking scans from both printed photos and transparencies. It automatically fixes dust and scratches, and its software is a breeze to use. $400
Printing and Publishing
Inkjet Printer
Canon i455
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
For everyday use, this sturdy, compact printer produces sharp text and attractive graphics on plain paper. Not so long ago, only six- and seven-ink photo printers could print natural-looking glossy photos with vivid color. But the Canon i455 prints exceptional glossy photos with only four inks--and for a very affordable price. $80
Business Color Printer
Oki C7300n
If you need business-quality text and color graphics from the same printer, buy the C7300n. This LED model printed text quickly, had a low consumables cost per page in our test, and bears a low price for what you get. $1889
Monochrome Laser Printer
HP LaserJet 1300
The LaserJet 1300 is fast enough to satisfy a small office, is a snap to install, and prints clean-looking line art and sharp text. $400
Workgroup Printer
At its price, Dell's M5200n can't be beat for high print quality and fast performance. This monochrome laser printed text at a sizzling 22.9 pages per minute in our tests. The printer is easy to operate, and it offers many expansion options. $899
Multifunction Printer
Canon MultiPass MP730
The MP730 is about as close to "no compromises" as we can imagine. It makes great prints, turns out pages quickly, and comes loaded with extras such as an automatic document feeder that can scan batches, slots that read five types of media card, and faxing that works even when your PC is off. $300
Desktop Publishing Software
Adobe InDesign CS
In this two-horse race (with the $995 QuarkXPress 6), InDesign CS wins by a nose. Its Separations Preview and Flattener Preview palettes take the guesswork out of print previews, and its Story Editor word processor makes fitting copy easier. "Once the underdog, InDesign is now the 3000-pound gorilla," says graphics guru and book author Deke McClelland. $699
Web Development Software
Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003
Whereas FrontPage 2002 focused on Office XP integration, Microsoft concentrated on improving this version's overall tools. The HTML engine generates much cleaner code that loads pages faster and simplifies HTML editing. Though FrontPage's features are playing catch-up with Web designers, who favor Macromedia's $399 Dreamweaver MX 2004, it's the better, lower-cost choice for casual developers. $199
Sound and Video
Digital Video Camera
Panasonic PV-GS200
This camcorder packs a lot into its small case, with a three-CCD imaging system that yields sharp, bright, color-rich video and 2.3-megapixel still images. $900
Video Editing Software
Though it faces some stiff competition from programs like Vegas 5, we like the powerful new features in Premiere Pro 1.5; it makes organizing and editing video easier, and adds support for editing HD video. $699
DVD Recorder
Lite-On LVW-5005
The svelte LVW-5005 impressed us for a number of reasons, starting with its ability to record to your choice of DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW media. The minimalist design is appealing, too: Its interface guides you through the recording process, and the remote is convenient and uncomplicated. Plus, the LVW-5005 is the first DVD recorder that lets you record MPEG-1 video to CDs, and record audio CDs from any audio input including over-the air broadcasts and digital music stations distributed by cable operators. $380
Network Streaming Device
Rockford Omnifi DMS1 Home Digital Media Streamer
Funky setup, clunky interfaces--some of the gadgets that let you shuttle digital music from a PC to a stereo system aren't worth the bother. But the Omnifi DMS1 is easy to install and offers intuitive access to your music library via a wired or wireless net. Bonuses include integration with Real's Rhapsody music service. $300
Digital Audio Player
Rio Karma
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
It's not as pretty as Apple's much-adored IPod (which finished a hotly debated second in our polling), but what the Rio Karma lacks in sex appeal, it makes up for in clever, usable features. It supports numerous audio formats (including Ogg Vorbis and FLAC), ships with a slick docking station that includes ethernet capabilities, and offers the pleasantly addictive Rio DJ, an on-board feature that generates playlists based upon your own listening habits. Add to that a long-lasting rechargeable battery and a reasonable price, and you have what Peter Rojas--editor of Engadget.com--calls the best player currently available for the power user. $300
Portable Projector
NEC LT10
For a 2.2-pound projector, the NEC LT10 generates impressive image quality. Rated at 1100 lumens, it's best suited for small conference rooms that seat about 20 people. Text is sharp, even at a supersmall, 7-point font size. It also does a great job of reproducing colors, with warmth that makes flesh tones and colors look accurate. $2200
19-Inch LCD
Eizo Nanao FlexScan L767
The L767 defies the stereotype that LCDs can't handle graphics work. In our tests it displayed rich colors, with precise transitions. For further picture refinement, Eizo includes its excellent ScreenManager Pro adjustment software, which (among other things) lets you specify custom screen settings for each application on your PC. The L767 comes at a premium price, but the results are worth it. $900
17-Inch LCD
Samsung SyncMaster 173P
The SyncMaster 173P looks great and offers a lot of flexibility. You can set the silver-framed panel in almost any position, and you make screen adjustments via an intuitive control application rather than by pressing clunky buttons on the bezel. The stylish design alone might justify paying a bit extra, but the 173P is also a top-notch performer, producing bright, vibrant colors in graphics and extrasharp text in documents. $660
22-Inch CRT Monitor
ViewSonic P220f
LCDs are sexy, but a 22-inch LCD that matches the resolution of the P220f costs about three times more. Put a couple hundred dollars of those savings toward a calibration kit, and the flat-tube P220f will provide professional-grade shading and color quality for graphics or video. And the P220f offers swift response for smooth movie watching or gaming. $550
Graphics Board
ATI All-In-Wonder series
The All-In-Wonder series proves that graphics cards have gone beyond gaming. Besides fast 3D-gaming acceleration, the ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 XT is capable of recording and playing back live FM radio. Adding ATI's $29 HDTV adapter, you can hook up an HDTV display to your computer. If your interest lies in the latest hardware, though, keep an eye out for the next-generation boards from ATI and competitor NVidia. Using beta drivers, ATI's X800 board and NVidia's GeForce 6800 Ultra delivered impressive results in our preliminary tests. $299 to $399
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Creative's sweet-sounding 24-bit/192-KHz sound cards remain the only ones that play DVD-Audio recordings right out of the box. The THX-certified Audigy 2 ZS line excels at surround sound, with Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES support for movies, EAX4 for games, and CMSS 3D audio that expands stereo music tracks to play in surround sound. The Platinum version of the Audigy 2 ZS comes with a front-panel I/O box that includes digital-in and-out ports, along with FireWire and MIDI connections. $180
PC Speakers
Logitech Z-680
Last year's World Class Speaker System looks even better a year later. Newer units such as Klipsch's ProMedia Ultra set and Creative's GigaWorks line might sound just a trifle better; but for digital input with those models, you'll need to add an external decoder at $75 to $100. Logitech's speakers sound great, they're digital right out of the box, and reputable online dealers are selling them for under $300--a terrific bargain for a high-quality 5.1-speaker system. $280
Mobile Tools
PDA
HP IPaq Pocket PC H4350
Photograph by Wendi Nordeck
We haven't always seen eye to eye with Microsoft on handheld OSs, but HP's take on Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PCs is particularly elegant in the H4350. You'll pay top dollar for this corporate companion, but it doesn't stint on features--built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a small keyboard. $500
PDA Software
VeriChat manages IM with panache on both Palm and Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) handhelds. The service works on the major IM networks, and it lets you toil away in another app while swapping messages with buddies. $25
Camera Phone
The V600 takes 640-by-480-resolution snapshots, plays downloaded video clips, simplifies photo sharing, and "comes in a design that everybody knows and loves," says IDC's Kevin Burden. $300 (carrier-dependent)
Web-Based E-Mail
Mailblocks' system of challenging messages from unknown senders just plain works. 5MB free, 15MB $10, 100MB $25
Video Instant Messaging Software
Some video IM services have such poor voice sync that you may as well look at a photo while talking on the phone. But SightSpeed keeps up with the back-and-forth banter of a fast-paced conversation. $5 per month, $50 per year
Remote Access Software
With a GoToMyPC account, you can turn any Web-connected PC into a clone of your distant machine, affording access to remote programs, files, and networks. Though pricey, the service's speedy, secure, and hassle-free approach remains unbeatable. $20 per month per PC
Collaboration Tool
No other collaboration tool matches Groove's safety, simplicity, and low cost--all within Windows Explorer. $69
Web-Based Application
This dot-com-era survivor has only improved over time, with new party invitation tools, including ones for public events. Free
GPS Navigation Device
Garmin StreetPilot 2620
The expensive StreetPilot calculates routes within seconds and supplies accurate, detailed maps and directions. Better still: It puts safety first by requiring that you stop the car before entering a new location. $1300