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Official Sweepstakes Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD AND AGE OF MAJORITY IN YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Sponsor, Administrator and Prize Provider: CNET, a Division of CBS Interactive, Inc. 235 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94105.

Prize Provider: Chocomize

Sweepstakes Entities: CBS Interactive Inc. ("CBSI") and Chocomize

1. … Read more

Amazon Kindle Fire (First Take)

In the world of tablets, there are great products and there are cheap products, but very few great, cheap products. For those of you unwilling to shell out $500 for an Apple iPad 2, and are wary of buying a piece of junk, Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire tablet should be at the top of your wish list.

Related stories: • Kindle Fire vs. Nook Color spec breakdown • Kindle Fire leads Amazon onslaught (roundup) • Amazon unveils Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire tablet

What it is The Kindle Fire is a tablet with a 7-inch screen, giving it a similar look and … Read more

Quick Take: Sony KDL-HX729 series

Although CNET did not review the Sony KDL-HX729 series, we did review the similar KDL-NX720.

Comparing the two on Sony's Web site, the HX729 has Sony's "Deep Black Panel" while the NX720 has the "OptiContrast Panel." We can't be sure how this difference affects picture quality, especially in bright rooms, but we suspect the two will have similar black-level performance since both use Sony's Dynamic Edge LED backlight (more info).

The HX729 has a 240Hz refresh rate, compared with the NX720's 120Hz. We don't expect this difference to have a … Read more

Quick Take: Samsung UND7000 series

Although CNET did not review the Samsung UND7000 series, we did review the UND8000 series.

The UND8000 has a higher contrast ratio, and in this case we do expect it to deliver better black-level performance. That's because the UND8000 has local dimming of its edge-lit LED backlight, which the company calls "micro dimming," while the UND7000 does not (more info).

Both TVs have the same ultraslim bezel design, however, so we expect the UND7000 to share the uniformity flaws we saw on the UND8000. The bezel of the 7000 has black accents, whereas the 8000 is entirely … Read more

Quick Take: Sharp LC-60LE632U

Although CNET did not review the Sharp LC-60LE632U, we did review the LC-60LE830U.

Comparing the two on Sharp's Web site, the 830U has a slightly higher contrast ratio and Sharp's Quattron technology. In practice we doubt either specification difference will make a big difference in picture quality (more info). In our testing of the 832U, Quattron provided no benefit to color accuracy.

The 830U also has a slightly different design, with squared-off edges and somewhat larger dimensions and weight. It includes a built-in subwoofer as well.

As far as we can tell there are no other major differences … Read more

Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 (2.2 GHz Core i7, 17-inch)

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro comes with the same specs as the highest-end 15-inch model: 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and a 750GB hard drive. There are a few small differences: an ExpressCard/34 slot instead of an SD card slot, and, of course, the added benefit of a large 1,900x1,200 display.

For related information, read our review of the 15-inch 2.2 GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro.

Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 (2.0 GHz Core i7, 15-inch)

This is the page for the entry-level $1799 15-inch 2011 MacBook Pro, which features a 2.0 GHz quad-core Core i7 CPU and AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics, along with a new high-speed Thunderbolt port, 500GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM.

For more information, read our review of the upper-end 15-inch 2011 MacBook Pro. It features a similar chassis, but an upgraded 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and a 750GB hard drive.

Quick Take: Samsung UNC5000 series

Although CNET did not review the Samsung UNC5000 series, we did review the UNC6500 series.

In terms of features, the major difference between the two is that the UNC5000 lacks the Samsung Apps Internet TV platform.

A few of the two series' specifications are also different. The UNC6500 has a 120Hz refresh rate along with dejudder processing, while the UNC5000 does not. The UNC6500 also has a higher dynamic contrast ratio spec, 5,000,000:1 versus 3,000,000:1. While we don't put much stock in these numbers, they could indicate that the UNC6500 has slightly better … Read more

Quick Take: Vizio XVT3D4SV series

Although CNET did not review the Vizio XVT3D4SV series, we did review the XVT3SV series.

Comparing the two on Vizio's Web site, it seems the main difference is that the XVT3D4SV is 3D-compatible, meaning it can play 3D video programming when watched through optional active shutter glasses. Vizio sells the glasses, model VSG-102, in a two-pack for about $200.

The XVT3D4SV is Vizio's only series to use active 3D technology rather than the passive method used by the XVT3D650SV and forthcoming 2011 Vizio models like the XVT3D5 series. See CNET's 3D TV FAQ for more information.

The … Read more