Editorial Review

Editorial Review

The Xbox Starter Pack includes the Xbox console, a total of two Xbox controllers, an Xbox carrying case, and a six-month subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Take the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.

The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, voice-activated headsets, and who knows what else?

But Xbox has more going for it than fancy innards. The Xbox's Windows-based operating system is a breeze to program on, earning it grateful accolades from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, THQ, and other game producers. The less time developers spend struggling with the operating system means the more time they spend tweaking gameplay, which ultimately results in better games. And games are what it's all about.

Editorial Review

More often than not, when a game is in development for more than threeyears, it does not live up to the hype. Bungie's Halo is the exception.Not only does it meet expectations, it greatly exceeds them. This sci-fifirst-person shooter is a nearly perfect blend of gameplay, graphics, and sound.

The story revolves around the conflict between humans and an alien race known asthe Covenant. The aliens have discovered a powerful artifact--on the ring-shapedplanet called Halo--that will shift the balance of power, and it's up to theplayer to stop them. In addition to several first-person-shooter levels, thegame offers numerous opportunities to engage in vehicular combat. Both the enemyand allied artificial intelligence are extremely impressive. Enemies will usethe terrain and layout to put you in tight spots. Allies will know when to coverand aid you. For instance, if you hop into a jeep, an ally will know to jump inand man the turret on the back of it.

The graphics are exquisitely detailed, but only move at 30 frames per secondrather than 60. The sound effects and voice acting are superb. The level designis among the best ever; most of the game is engaging and challenging withoutbeing frustrating. There's also high replay value thanks to the built-insingle-player, cooperative, and deathmatch modes.

Much like the outstanding GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64, Haloraises the bar for console first-person shooters. All console action games willbe measured against Halo for years to come. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Outstanding game design
• High replay value
• Impressive AI

• Several maps are used multiple times
• Save functions could have been better implemented
• Graphics move at 30 frames per second, not 60

Editorial Review

Features

• Tune the wheel's sensitivity to fit personal preferences with the AccuDrive system
• Rubber-clad wheel with 10 analog action buttons
• Retractable leg supports
• Vertical-vector full-response pedals
• Vibration feedback adds to the realism

Asin: B00005QEZ8
Sales Rank: 2148
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Controllers   

Editorial Review

F1 2001 takes you into a living, breathing Formula One world. Feel the anticipation during the buildup to the race as team personnel and engineers buzz around the grid. Race against opponents who want to win as badly as you do. Every driver on the track will fight, battle, and react to maintain his current position while constantly looking for the next opportunity to overtake you, creating a high-pressure racing experience.

Editorial Review

Never get lost again with the versatile and powerful GPS V from Garmin. This compact Global Positioning System receiver can be both mounted in your vehicle and used as a handheld navigator. The GPS V coordinates signals from 12 satellites to pinpoint your position anywhere on the globe, and has WAAS capability.

The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is a system of satellites and ground stations that provides GPS signal corrections, giving you up to 5 times better position accuracy than just the GPS signal. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters, 95 percent of the time.

With 19 MB of built-in memory, the GPS V can store dozens of maps and routes in memory. Download data from your PC with the included serial cable. The GPS V stores 50 routes with 254 waypoints each, and 3,000 tracklog points.

The GPS V comes with autorouting for the shortest and fastest way to your destination, plus turn-by-turn directions throughout North America and major cities. The GPS V will show you how to get there and give you an estimated time of arrival, then alert you to upcoming turns with an audible beep.

The included MapSource City Select CD-ROM--designed specifically for the GPS V--gives you detailed street-level maps indicating points of interest. City Select includes highways, interstates, business and residential streets with attributes such as turn restrictions and speed categories, and other navigation features. The software automatically creates point-to-point routes in MapSource and on the GPS V. It also displays restaurants, hotels, attractions, entertainment, shopping, and location of emergency services along your route.

City Select contains detailed maps of major metropolitan areas in seven defined regions in the U.S. and Canada. You'll get access to one region of your choice, which must be unlocked after visiting the Garmin Web site or calling Garmin customer service.

View data on the 2.2-by-1.5-inch four-level grayscale LCD, with resolution of 256 x 160 pixels. A multilevel backlight allows you to see the screen clearly in a variety of lighting conditions.

Features

• Magazine Subscription

Asin: B00005N7TL
Sales Rank: 7
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business    4. Technology   

Editorial Review

Canon's 3-megapixel S30 hits the marketing sweet spot between features and ease of use, making it ideal for a wide range of photographers. It offers point-and-shoot simplicity while still providing advanced settings for more experienced photographers. Features like video capture, stitched panoramas, and continuous shooting offer a huge bonus in terms of fun and versatility for photographers at all levels of experience.

Getting started with the S30 couldn't have been simpler. We just slid open the lens cover and started shooting. Setting the camera to automatic mode, we were able to take vivid photos with accurate colors and outstanding detail. The 3x optical zoom--10x if you factor in the digital enhancement--made all the difference in our outdoor photos, letting us frame our shots perfectly.

A quick look at the options dial of the S30 shows that its capabilities extend well beyond quick snapshots. Even novices can take advantage of the camera's video mode, which can capture short videos. Though nowhere near camcorder quality, these videos are perfect for putting on a Web page or sending via e-mail, and the built-in microphone records sound for videos or notations on individual photos.

A bit more complicated is the photo-stitch mode, which lets you take panorama photos by lining up multiple pictures to cover vast areas and then stitching them together into a grand panorama on your PC. The handy continuous-photo mode enables you to shoot up to three images per second, ideal for capturing sporting events or wildlife.

The camera comes with only a 16 MB CompactFlash card, and you'll definitely want to purchase an additional memory card as a 16 MB card only holds approximately 16 3-megapixel images. Beyond that quibble, there's not much fault to be found with the Canon S30. It combines the ease-of-use novices require with the advanced features serious photographers expect.

Pros:

• 3-megapixel resolution
• 3x optical and 3.2x digital zoom
• Captures short videos with sound
• Excellent picture quality both indoors and out

• Only comes with 16 MB of CompactFlash memory

Editorial Review