budget

In the land of far-reaching layoffs, the budget desktop is king

If you find yourself running low on cash but still need a desktop computer for your home or office, the Dell Inspiron "S" series will fit the bill. We recently took a close look at the Dell Inspiron I530S-119B, a system that retains the "S" series' slimline chassis and a baseline set of components for a very affordable price tag. For around $500, you get a 2.5GHz Intel Pentium dual processor, a 128MB Intel graphics card integrated with the motherboard, a 500GB hard drive, and 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium.

We put the Inspiron I530-119B … Read more

eMachines budget desktop airs some stank

Do not attempt to adjust your monitor: yes, the eMachines you see to the left of this copy is just as boring as it appears. It's a budget system that costs $380, so we're not expecting world-class design, but eMachines doesn't even make it pretty on the inside. There's ample room for expansion, but the core components aren't blowing up skirts:

2.1GHz AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor 4050e 3GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM 128MB shared NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics chip 320GB, 7,200 rpm hard drive dual-layer DVD burner Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (… Read more

GoStereo Tune In Tune Out: Headphones and speakers in one

An MP3 player is mostly a personal music device, but it also provides a great way to share music with others or even--in a pinch--satisfy your home stereo needs. To satisfy both the personal- and public-listening experiences, logic dictates you need two separate gadgets: a pair of headphones and a set of speakers. Or you could pick up GoStereo's Tune In Tune Out Headphones, which combine the two into one handy, simple device.

The headphones sound about average and the speaker quality is only so-so, but the superfair price of $50 for a 2-in-1 product makes the whole concept … Read more

JLab JBuds J2 earphones a step up from stock

After shelling out $100 or more for a new MP3 player, dropping more of your hard-earned cash on a pair of headphones may not appeal to you--especially given that a working pair is generally packaged with the device. However, that stock set isn't doing you any favors in the sound (or comfort) department, which is why we always recommend upgrading, even if it's only to $15 earbuds.

Or you could aim a little higher and pick up a set of JLab's JBuds J2 earphones, which carry an suggested retail price of $80 but list for $30 on … Read more

Toshiba unveils two new notebooks in Satellite series

Toshiba continues its lineup with a couple of new notebooks from its Satellite series.

First up is the 15-inch Toshiba Satellite L305-S5921, an average, entry-level notebook that will suffice for the student on a budget. Don't expect to find a FireWire port, Bluetooth, or a Webcam on this unit, but do expect to see the usual row of media-control keys for pause, stop, rewind, and fast forward and two programmable keys defaulted to mute and open Windows Media Player. Also on this notebook are three USB ports, a 4-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter, and an Express Card slot. It comes … Read more

Sources: RIAA budget will shrink soon

The budget for the music industry's trade group, the Recording Industry Association of America, will soon shrink as the major labels reduce costs and their dependence on file-sharing lawsuits, industry insiders said Friday.

Friday's startling news that the trade group representing the four largest music labels has declared an end to a long-running legal campaign against file sharing will mean a reduced role for the RIAA, which is coming up on its yearly budget review, according to a source close to the group.

But in a climate where digital music sales are growing, though not fast enough to … Read more

Best budget headphones

These days, looking for budget-friendly tech is more imperative than ever. It's surprisingly easy to break the bank on headphones--this seemingly innocuous gadget is often more expensive than the MP3 player you're pairing it with. Comfort, sound, and style are all important considerations when picking out new 'phones, but you needn't spend an arm and a leg. In fact, headphones are one of the few pieces of technology that are relatively timeless, meaning an older model can save you dough while still providing an excellent listening experience.

To help you sort through the seemingly endless array of … Read more

Five financial Android apps to regulate your dough

With the economy in continuing decline, keeping tight control over your money is no longer just for obsessives. These financial apps for Google Android help you count every penny.

Personal Budget Droid is a simple budget- and bills-tracker that lets you create multiple monthly budgets for groceries, housing costs, and so on. You enter every budget name and transaction by hand, but the app keeps a transaction history and calculates how much you have left for each category.

The more sophisticated FireWallet works with budgets inside various accounts and protects your information behind a four-digit pin you change from the … Read more

Guess what! CNET reviews LCD monitors--here's proof

This is for all you Crave addicts out there who read Crave and only Crave (you know who you are). You see, CNET is actually more than quirky gadgets and gear. We review whole products!

In particular, we've reviewed quite a few LCD monitors lately. For a low-price 22-incher that boasts great movies and games performance and includes both HDMI and DVI connections, check out the Gateway HD2201.

If you're in the market for something a little smaller, take a look at these three 19-inchers, the Westinghouse L1916HW, the Viewsonic VX1962wm, and the Lenovo ThinkVision L1940p.

Also, we … Read more