The game Torchlight even includes a "Netbook Mode" in the settings.
(Credit: Runic Games)Like just about everyone else on the planet, you broke down and purchased a Netbook. After all, these low-cost, low-power laptops are great for tossing in your bag for a trip, working at the coffee shop, or just taking to class.
You knew all along that these systems were not made for gaming, and obviously you planned to spend all your time doing Netbook-like things such as Web surfing and working on office docs. Still, somewhere along the way, the thought crept in--maybe I can find some games that'll run on an Intel Atom processor and integrated graphics...
In the name of science, we loaded up a wide variety of games and asked friends and associates what games they had successfully played, all to help us compile this list of Netbook-friendly titles. They range from free to around $20; some are re-released PC classics, some are Web-based casual games, and a few are even from that fast-growing social-gaming genre found on Facebook (such as FarmVille).
Browse through the slideshow below to see our current favorites (and links to where you can download or play them). Bookmark this page for periodic updates as we find new games, or suggest your own Netbook favorites in the comments section below. Most of these will run on any Netbook with Windows 7 or XP, 1GB of RAM, and an Intel Atom N270 or 280 processor. A handful are recommended only for Netbooks with Nvidia's Ion graphics.
Note: If you dig into your old dusty CD and DVD binders, there's no doubt you can find a ton of great classic PC games to try (we just found our original discs for both Grim Fandango and System Shock 2), but since your Netbook doesn't have an internal optical drive, we're restricting this list to games one can download from legit online sources, such as Steam or GOG.com.
> Need more? Follow me at twitter.com/danackerman.
> See our Holiday laptop picks in the CNET Holiday Tech Guide.
> Get a Netbook primer in our Netbook Quick Guide.
Sorry, no iPhone included.
For today's holiday giveaway we've serving up one the best portable iPod and iPhone speakers on the market, Altec Lansing's inMotion Classic.
CNET Editor Donald Bell says that while Classic lacks the low-end oomph of a larger system, it sounds "remarkable for its size" and has a built-in rechargeable battery. (Read the full review).
Normally, an inMotion Classic would cost you about $125, but you have the chance to get it gratis.
So, how do you try to win this portable iPod dock? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test.
- Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, there's no need to register again.
- Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
- Leave only one comment. You may enter this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
- The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive (1) Altec Lansing inMotion Classic. Retail value is $125.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries can be submitted until Friday, December 4, at 7 a.m. EST.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 7 AM ET on December 4, 2009. See official rules for details.
Good luck.
Come back tomorrow for our next holiday giveaway. Tomorrow's prize will be a Motorola Cliq smartphone.
On Sale Now: $106.76 - $149.95
View the latest prices for Altec Lansing inMotion Classic
(Credit:
The Container Store)
Chances are at least one of your friends or family members owns an iPod. Or maybe you're planning on giving one as a gift this holiday season. Perhaps you have one yourself and think even inanimate objects deserve presents.
Whatever the reason, it's the perfect time to pick up some accessories for this ubiquitous MP3 player. Rest assured, there is no shortage of add-ons for the iPod; in fact, wading through the sea of cases, speakers, chargers, and car mounts for this device can be a bit of a daunting task.
This is precisely why we've packaged a slew of neat little extras right here in this handy one-stop-shopping post. Heck, there's even some iPhone-worthy stuff scattered about, so make sure you give 'em all a look.
Before all of September's iPod and Zune hoopla devoured my attention, I was in the middle of telling you folks about the Altec Lansing inMotion Classic speaker dock. Now that the dust has settled, we've posted a full CNET review of the Classic, along with the customary First Look video and photo gallery.
If the thought of clicking over to the full review just seems like way too much trouble, then let's just cut to the chase. For the $130-ish dollars you'll spend on this iPod- and iPhone-compatible portable speaker, the inMotion Classic packs a surprisingly big sound into a striking, compact design. Sound-wise, it's not going to stand up to the inMotion Mix or the $600 Bose SoundDock 10, but as an affordable, portable, rechargeable iPod speaker, it rules.
Read the full review of the Altec Lansing inMotion Classic.
On Sale Now: $106.76 - $149.95
View the latest prices for Altec Lansing inMotion Classic
Apple's dropping bombs all over CNET in the form of brand-new iPods and a freshly updated iTunes. You know what that means: harried editors scrambling to get you all the freshest details. This week's podcast has all you want to know about iTunes 9 and the updates to the iPod Shuffle, Nano, Classic, and Touch. Plus, we have plenty of video demonstrating the fifth-generation Nano's many new features.
Listen now:
Download today's podcast
Subscribe in iTunes audio | Subscribe in iTunes video | Subscribe in RSS audio | Subscribe in RSS video
... Read more
(Credit:
Gamespot)
With today marking the 10-year anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast, news from the company reveals that a brand-new 2D Sonic game is in development and slated for a 2010 release.
While details are slim, the teaser trailer (see below) indicates that the new game will be an HD title built entirely from the ground up. It's also unclear whether Sonic will be the main star of the game, as Gamespot is reporting that the project's codename is "Needlemouse."
Fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog series have been clamoring for a traditional 2D Sonic game in the vein of the lightning-fast titles from the Sega Genesis age. With Sega officially answering that call, we're left wondering if "Needlemouse" will be a traditional $60 boxed game or a download-only title.
The Altec Lansing inMotion Classic is an angular, powerful boombox made for the iPod and iPhone.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)Altec Lansing has a long history of producing some stellar little speaker systems designed around the iPod. Their latest portable speaker, the inMotion Classic, continues the company's tradition of delivering quality audio in a compact and stylish design.
I've reviewed a number of Altec Lansing's iPod speakers, including last year's inMotion Max and im600, so I thought I had a pretty good idea what to expect from a seemingly basic, $149 speaker dock. I was wrong.
So far, my initial impressions of the inMotion Classic are excellent. For a budget-minded portable speaker that stands only 4 inches high and measures just 2 inches thick, this thing cranks. Sure, it's not as thin as the im600, or as impressive-looking as the inMotion Max, but the engineers have juiced the two 3-inch speakers on the Classic for all they're worth.
There are no EQ settings on the Classic, but the overall sound is crisp with a surprising amount of meat on the low end compared with other fold-flat speakers we've tested from Logitech and Griffin. ... Read more
On Sale Now: $106.76 - $149.95
View the latest prices for Altec Lansing inMotion Classic
As first reported by Paul Thurott of SuperSite for Windows, Microsoft is discontinuing the current generation of Zunes.
So long, Zune 8, we hardly knew you.
(Credit: Microsoft)Leaving aside all the easy insults--yes, we all know Microsoft never sold many of the things--and the possibility that your candy-apple red Zune 80 may someday be a collector's item, this means Microsoft has basically ceded the low end of the MP3 player market.
While the current Zunes start at $80, the Zune HD, which becomes available on September 15, will run you at least $220. This is great news for competitors such as SanDisk, whose Sansa Clip+ suddenly looks like the best deal around for folks on limited budgets.
On the other end, eliminating the 80GB and 120GB models means that folks with huge digital collections and no interest in touch screens will probably just stick with the iPod Classic, which is pretty much what was happening anyway.
Follow Matt on Twitter.
(Credit:
Steve Guttenberg)
Vinyl is back, big time, but the fact is most folks, probably close to 99 percent of the under 40-set, haven't heard records.
For them, music is about portability and vinyl is a stay-at-home deal. Vinyl has more of a hands-on work ethic: you've got to cue the tonearm, lower the "needle," and when the side's over, turn it over or play another LP. Digital requires almost nothing from you; no wonder it's dominated the music scene for the last couple of decades.
Me, I'm having something of a vinyl fling right now. I've always owned a turntable, but there were times I played only CDs for months on end. I guess I didn't want to deal with the extra work of playing vinyl. Sad, but true.
As for LP vs. CD comparisons, I didn't do any. Trust me, you don't have to be a golden-eared audiophile to notice the two formats sound very different. Records are "warmer" and sound more like the sound of real instruments and voices; CDs almost always make them more detailed and brighter-sounding than they are in real life.
... Read more
Civilization comes to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Bye-bye, productivity!
Following in the footsteps of PC classics like Doom, Myst, and SimCity, Sid Meier's legendary Civilization just landed in the App Store.
Not only has it arrived, but also it's on sale for $4.99--but only until tomorrow (Aug. 12), at which time the price jumps to $9.99.
Of course, die-hard Civilization fans (of which there are a few hundred bazillion) would probably pay any price for a mobile, iPhone-optimized version of the beloved game. If you're new to the world-building party, there's a single-scenario Lite version available for free.
Civilization Revolution for the iPhone closely resembles the Nintendo DS game of the same name, which debuted a little more than a year ago. This version, however, lacks multiplayer support, though it does take advantage of iPhone gestures: you can pinch to zoom in and out and drag your finger to move units in a desired direction.
Confession time: I've never been a Civilization player, so I found the learning curve here a little steep--despite the presence of some basic tutorials. What's more, the screen is undeniably cramped for a game that revolves around massive maps. And the onscreen controls seemed unresponsive at times.
That said, I can see how a few minutes with Civilization could easily turn into a few hours. I think that's been the case with every version of the game, which is why it's widely regarded as one of the most addictive of all time.
Needless to say, if you're a fan of the series, you'll undoubtedly want to add this to your iPhone or iPod Touch (along with a spare battery, perhaps). If not, give the Lite version a try and see what all the fuss is about.
