budget

Spaced out: Obama to cut funding for Mars program

Mars enthusiasts hoping the United States will soon be exploring the Red Planet will likely get some bad news next week.

According to The Washington Post, President Obama's next budget will slash funding for Mars and Jupiter rovers by as much as 20 percent. The budget is expected to be unveiled on Monday.

The Post reported that the Obama Administration has briefed scientists on its proposed budget, which would slash funding for NASA's Mars program from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion annually. And further cuts are proposed over the following four years.

The cuts are likely … Read more

Buying a tablet on a budget: Android or iPad?

Thanks to Google Android, there are more tablet choices on the market than you can shake a stick at. But with a weak supply of apps to choose from and some buggy software, are these iPad knockoffs worth it? Or should consumers just pony up a few extra bucks and buy the iPad?

With the iPad 3 just around the corner, Ask Maggie tackles this question helping one reader decide if a low-cost Android option is better than a higher-priced iPad. Ask Maggie also helps a devoted iPod Touch user decide if he should get an iPhone as his first … Read more

Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet: How to choose

Editors' note: This article was originally posted November 23, 2011. We've added some material and updated it on February 24, 2012, based on further use of the products and the introduction of Barnes & Noble's 8GB Nook Tablet.

Now that the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet both have a few months under their belts, we're taking another look at these two budget-price tablets.

Even after a handful of software updates from both manufacturers, we're still awarding the Nook Tablet a slightly higher rating, thanks largely to its hardware advantages: a better … Read more

Quick Take: LG LV4400 series

When it comes to budget screens with lounge-friendly sizes, LG has got things covered.

The company offers a number of TV between 40 and 50 inches for under a thousand dollars, with the 42LV4400 in particular proving quite popular with CNET readers.

The LV4400 is a LCD series that includes an LED-backlit LCD panel. It features a piano black bezel and a fairly understated look. Features are a little light-on, but if you're looking for a simple TV without all of the gumpf associated with more-expensive models--"smart TV"? That's what a Roku is for! And … Read more

How the Kindle replaced my iPad...for book reading

There's a case to be made for convergence devices, and for merging every product down to just one. The iPad, in many ways, has been that device for me: I travel light, I read or watch movies or play games or surf the Web on it. It's a security blanket and a thin catchall.

Still...I bought a Kindle. … Read more

Track finances on your iPhone

Mint is the iOS mobile companion to Mint.com, the popular financial services site that helps you track all of your accounts and budgets.

You have to set up an account with Mint.com to use the app (which involves giving Mint.com access to your bank, credit card, and investment accounts), then you can monitor your accounts, budget, and cash flow from the site or the app. The passcode-protected app presents your finances in summary form, with the capability to drill down to the item level of a purchase. Follow the trail to the end to edit an item'… Read more

Coby Kyros tablets

The Kyros line of Android tablets from Coby encompasses a variety of screen sizes and configurations. They are relatively inexpensive but suffer from a number of hardware and software sacrifices compared to CNET's preferred list of Android tablets.

To get a better sense of the Coby Kyros experience, be sure to read CNET's review of the Coby Kyros 8-inch model. For more low-price tablet suggestions, check out CNET's list of best budget tablets.

Velocity Micro Cruz tablets

The tablet wars of 2011 were waged on two fronts. On one side you had well-funded heavyweights (HP, Samsung, RIM, Asus) assaulting the iPad with equally ambitious and expensive creations. On the other side you had budget-minded manufacturers trying desperately to create a viable, cheap tablet alternative.

The Velocity Micro Cruz series is the result of the latter warfront. In 2011, the company launched no less than six low-priced tablets, running the gamut from $119 resistive screen clunkers like the Cruz R100, all the way up to the $299 10-inch Cruz T410.

Whether marketed as e-book readers or Android tablets, … Read more

Shure SRH550DJ headphones review: Great for DJs and desk jockeys

The Shure SRH550DJ headphone's folding earcups, extra-long wire, and deep bass push are a boon for DJs who prefer tough cans that emphasize the lower end of the sound spectrum.

These are Shure's $100 budget DJ headphones, but you wouldn't know it by their robust sound and build quality. Their price point puts them in tough competition with the classic Sony MDR-V700DJ, a favorite among traveling DJs and musicians for the past decade.… Read more

Best tech gifts under $100

Budget tech is one of our favorite categories here at CNET, so that's why we're running not one, but two budget tech gift roundups this year.

My compadre John Falcone put together a list of the 10 best el-cheapo tech products out there with his Best tech gifts under $50 feature.

I get a little more wiggle room with a $99.99 budget, which is why this list should really be called "Best tech gifts between $50 and $100." But more people are looking on Google for "best tech gifts under $100," so we'… Read more