TrustedReviews Awards 2008 Comments

yawwwwwzzaaa!!!

Nice-Em's!!

very detailed reviews

Best site in the planet!

Keep up that good work

Apple Mac Book - best design?? You been drinking?

Don't forget that design isn't *just* about how sexy something looks (although, even if it was the MacBook could well still win it), but also about the internal design. In this instance, Apple's new laptops are revolutionary and well deserve the #1 spot.

Best design given to the MacBook? Pah! Revolutionary? More like evolutionary! Honestly, this is why I roll my eyes at Trusted Reviews staffers sometimes.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but what exactly makes the MacBook the best designed laptop and the best designed product… period, of 2008? I would have given it to the Samsung printer over the MacBook easily. Even the Sony Ericcson XPERIA X1, Linksys WRT160N, Samsung LE-A656, Pioneer KRP-600M, I could keep going, were better designed.

"but also about the internal design. In this instance, Apple's new laptops are revolutionary and well deserve the #1 spot."

Hahahaha, revolutionary indeed - with 4 GB RAM they are slowly catching up with late early 2000s Windows laptops.

Not a Mac basher here - check out the benchmarks at http://www.macworld.com/article/136881/boot_camp_gaming.html

13 FPS in Crysis in Vista, this is just painfully embarassing.

As for sexy looks there are none.

Macbook - for being the most average, unexciting and overhyped hardware of 2008?

*runs away even quicker*

It's *design* you clowns.

Highlighting the amount of RAM just shows what you get when nerds make comments on design.
Would the design have been better with a 16 GB stick?

A single piece of alu, thats lush, as I would imagine is a big glass touchpad. This stuff looks awesome and is different from anything else.

There is a reason that EVERY person that works in the design world uses a mac (and an iphone now I have noticed). They live for good design, and they can spot it when Job's billions shoves it in their face. You could put my old Atari 800XL in this shell and they would buy it (ok its UI is slick too so I've gone a bit far there, though I might buy it to play Blue Max again).

Anyway if nerd talk is what you want: OSX is sweet on 2GB ram and ok on 1, maybe other laptops would settle for this if they didn't have to support Vista. Take that Gates!! yeah you heard me!

I suppose at least the high-contrast design of the new macbook helps those with poor eyesight.

If you're not just considering appearance then what about all the design mistakes in the macbook? No firewire, no eSATA, a stupid proprietry video-out port, no blu-ray option and a glossy screen.

I'm surprised the X300 wasn't the top designed product, it sounds like a much more impressive piece of kit.

The word "revolutionary" was taken from the 2nd poster’s comment. In addition, I don't understand how the items mentioned in my previous post could be easily dismissed without even a moment’s mention i.e. the X1 and the Linksys router; they look exceptional and deserve some recognition. I mean, if the iPhone can be glorified beyond believe, then at least another company's offering, that assist in quelling the fires of disgust regarding the lack of decent features on the iPhone, should be publically recognised.

Regarding the Pioneer, I think an update should be made to the awards, as it is not only built beautifully, it also has, as reviewed by Trusted Reviews, a separate connector module. Due to the ergonomic nature of this design, it allows a utilisation of functionality unparalleled by other manufacturers, and enables an expressionistic tour de force of modern design to excel where others could not.

I for one will look forward, and look closely, to Trusted Reviews’ awards 2009, and will no doubt see a blatant and apparent misuse of award handling there too.

Whats pioneering (ho ho see what I've done there?) about going back to a seperate connector box. The only thing it enables is plugging in your dvd player more easily....hold on I've just read the bit about the 'tour de force..' so I guess you are taking the mickey.......or copying out of a Pioneer brochure.

You take your seperate connector box and I'll take a laptop crafted from a single block of aluminium......hmmm...hold on I could do with a new tele.....

I wonder how the Best Portable Notebook list would've looked if the Vaio TT had made it in time to be considered for the list. Guess we'll see next year...

If I had the money I'd buy a Thinkpad X301 no question. So I agree wholeheartedly with the X300 getting the top honour. I guess I'll have to settle for a M1330. :(

Actually, the tour de force comment was my moment of clarity when I was channelling Pioneer. Not bad eh? ;)

@Gordon - Yes, I have seen the X1 and used one for a while too. In my opinion it looks great, feels great, except for maybe the keyboard, and the silver, which I didn't like in the press shots, is much more appealing in real life. I for one will be getting the black X1 shortly, and can honestly say that it will suit my needs much better than any other handset I have seen online or heard about this year, and looks better than most of the other handsets currently available.

A single piece of aluminium, in theory, is a great idea, but when it’s used to manufacture an average styled product, I have to look at those concerned with bringing the item to market and raise an eyebrow. I don’t agree with the comment referring to my “whinging” as I …”don’t like Apple's styling or just Apple products in general. I don’t not like Apple’s products in general, I just think a lot of them are purely over-priced for what you get. If you wish me to mention other manufacturers and their products that fall into the same category, such as Sony’s recent X series LCDs, the overpriced Pioneer LX71, the G1 or practically all Phillips’ “attempts” of TVs to date, then believe me, I will regale you with a story that will leave you firmly entranced.

@Gordon I own a Sony Xperia X1 and think its nice, each to their own eh.
Anyhow change of subject i thought trustedreviews get all the tech early, why was there no review of the Sony Vaio TT afteral you gave the TZ tops marks last year. So it would have been ideal to have done a review of it before this before this article. The TT has been out for nearly a month also. Nevermind, just wondering :)

It's a shame there wasn't an award for best media player which hooks up to your TV.

A point I forgot to mention was that I mainly picked up on the best design award as it was the 2nd last award in the list and, therefore, was fresh on my mind. I thought I'd better mention it as I don't want to be accused again of whinging about not liking Apple's products in general. <rolls eyes>

The Macbook just had to get an award, but could only realistically get a subjective one: TR says it's pretty. IMHO design should be about more than just looking pretty (which is hard to argue with), in which case the Macbook with the malfunctioning touchpad, the overheating aluminium case, glossy, low resolution screen, etc. is really a joke.
On a more personal note: I don't even think that the looks are something to write home about...
PS.: Isn&#8217;t it funny that you always get these types of comments in conjunction with the same brand?

PS2: I also found it interesting that your main advertiser Panasonic won so many awards this year, from televisions to cameras...

And the award for best technology website for news and reviews goes to - 'Trusted Reviews' !!!

^^^ ...and that's why TR was better without the comments section.

Just to mention something other than a laptop
..Glad to see the Nikon D300 up top in the DSLR section
(Cliff; any chance of a D90 review?)

..I'll second what Deemow26 says
best tech site going :)

Most friendly Tech site going...

...and these awards would surely have benefited from a drop-down menu style navigation.

As it is I had to jump through 29 pages of awards, with no idea what was coming next.

Of course, reading about all the products more then made up for the navigation problems.

A pleasurable read about top notch kit. However shouldn't you be holding your 2008 awards ceremony after the year has ended? Its still only November.

Or is it your way of telling us there's nothing much to come between now and New Year ;)

Can wholly endorse the Nokia E71 as best smartphone. Am typing this on mine right now and have given my blackberry back to my company because I can just use mail for exchange on this.

Other than that, it's hard to argue with too many choices here. Looks like 2008 has been more a year of consolidation, with top awards going to an improved iphone, better speakerdock and more iterations of Kuro etc. Here's hoping for some revolutionary changes in '09 (perhaps wishful thinking with research budgets probably slashed).

You realised the iPhone isn't a smartphone! Finally, some sense!

I personally dislike the design of the new Macbook - why not have a nice aluminium effect keyboard? Black just looks wrong there (although, the same applies to the newer iMacs).

One category I think you guys could have/should have added was "Best Company".

A list of companies that have stood out for its products and services. Companies that really are trying hard (like Apple) to be less harmful to the environment. Companies that have been pushing the boundaries of technology.

What about the Vaio TT....

Could that beat X300? Its still 2008?

@Ed - I have made two other comments on malfunctioning touch pads and overheating (both clearly a result of bad product design) besides the screen problems to support my point. Also, my Toshiba laptop (that I bought for £700 at a general retailer) in 2005 has a higher screen resolution than the winner of the design category today. I rest my case.
As to Panasonic: at least nominated in every category the have a product in (not counting the £15 headphones).

@Singularity - Panasonic seem to be predominately nominated in the Home Cinema and Camera awards. Maybe, just maybe, this is because they make such good Home Cinema equipment and cameras - rather then some conspiracy theory on TR's behalf(??)

In fact, I probably wouldn't have noticed anything if this theory hadn't been brought up in the comments, as I didn't notice any bias on first read through.

I liked this article a lot. Of course the most debatable choices were in the design category(personally I'd split it in a beauty and a usability category, but that's too late to opinate upon I guess!) but I find myself in agreement in most other regards. I'll only point out that if the 8800M > 9800M is anything like the 8800GT > 9800GT Nvidia naming scheme then it would be correct to say that the former has been "renamed into", not "replaced by" the latter, in the desktop replacement category.

grrrr.... well i want to buy a laptop on Saturday, and this has been no help. well ok.. maybe some help.

I was going to get the Vaio TT..!!!!

i'll have to get the big fat 13inch Z11 now or you'll make me feel bad when you publish your review.

:-(

@ Ohmz
I'm afraid Apple would not make the top of such a list, environmentally their new unibody enclosure is a waste of materials and just look at the new green peace charts if you want to see them ranked against others.

On the pushing boundaries, multitouch and kicking phone developers up the backside deserves a mention but I'd say the micro 4/3 camera system developed by Panasoic is much more 'pushing boundaries' as it gets rid of the mirror altogether!

And on standing out for products and services... again ouch, Apples support is hopeless (even Dell who are widely criticized, are better in my experience and I've dealt with the CS from both companies more then a few times). And their products look good and are a joy to use, but in this economic downturn I'd say 'standing out' would be delivering that beyond their niche market.

@ Riyad - if you read the comments above you will see that many had problems with the winner of the design category. As you mention as well, products in the same price class bring much better designs to the table, which pretty much the point I am making. I agree with you that these are the exceptions, which is exactly why these products deserve the awards!!! Besides, as mentioned before, there are other problems with the design of the Macbook as well, which you seem to glide over in all your replies.
Considering the above, the regular comments on your 'the iPhone is the best phone ever' approach, I would think that it is quite clear, which other company has spent lots of money with TR in 2008 than Panasonic...

@ Pbryanw - how about the camcorders, both television categories? All this is most notable because both awarded Panasonic televisions are from the Viera family, which is advertised on the home page of this website. But why don't you just do this test: click on the TV tab and make a search for Panasonic; seems to be the only company that only produces products with an average of 9-10 points.

@Singularity

As an industry veteran of too many years and someone who knows Riyad not personally but by his professional reputation and that of his team.

You are so far off the mark you are laughable.

No further comment required.

@ Riyad - and I compliment you on your approach to the comments, as opposed to the rather dictatorial direction Geoff is taking.
As to trying to prove of achieve sthing: there is nothing to it, just trying to bring a different and less biased point of view in case of some brands (mentioned above).
You are of course right with the freedom of choice, however you got to love the objectivity of some of your reviewers: Sandra&#8217;s very strict and impartial phone reviews jump to mind immediately. Would have loved to read her take on the iPhone but unfortunately that was done by someone else. She and others keep some of us here reading, but when the Macbook gets a reward you just have to comment.

@ OldTimer - what I find laughable is that you don't see a problem with the advertised TV of a sponsor winning in one of the two categories for televisions and another being third in the other. Besides, not sure what the reason is for your personal attack is; I have merely commented on the bias in favour of cerain brands.

@Singularity - I did a search as suggested and Philips, Samsung and Pioneer seemed to come up just as regularly as Panasonic. In fact, in the 33-42 and 43-52 inch TV categories, none of the top five hits received back were from Panasonic.

I think if TR's reviews were indeed influenced by advertising, as I think you are insinuating, then they would be on a dangerous, slippery slope downwards; while all the evidence suggests otherwise.

@Singularity. So by your logic advertising means you should not win any awards? WTF!

You are making a very personal attack on the credibility of people and in particular an editor who is well known for being of the highest integrity and who I know works unbelieveable hours to deliver for readers of this site (well he always did under HC ;)) . I only have experience of journalists in the IT sector and I can tell you that the very hint of playing the advertising card to garner good reviews or awards would, from what I have seen from the actions of others, result in just the opposite.

As other posters highlight you are guilty of not letting the facts get in the way of your rather flawed argument.

I think its been a disappointing year gear wise. As has been said it mostly been evolutionary. I can't say that I'm super excited about any one product. Last year I'd have bitten your hand off for a TZ or a Kuro. I still wouldn't say no this year but my enthusiasm isn't as big for their successors.

Still, as others have said, great site!! Please keep it up.

@Riyad
Will catch you again for some more Horde soon. Was a bit late on Friday.

This is getting absurd. Anyone who scans the web for reviews before purchases will see how highly regarded Panasonic TVs and cameras are at the moment. Check out AVForums for a start. I bet all those people praising their Panasonic sets have been paid off too.

As for best design, too me this is the least interesting category. If I'm going to make a decision on a purchase, many other factors are likely to inform my decision.

Trying to broaden the scope of this discussion a bit. It would have been nice to have had some cheaper components in the Best Home Cinema category. I understand by its nature that good AV/Home Cinema isn't cheap, but maybe next year you could sub-divide it into price points similar to what you did with TVs.

Other than that, a very good round up, and will be a good source of information for making purchasing decisions in, hopefully, a cheaper 2009. Hi-end technology is one area where we could see some interesting price reductions IF the 2.5% VAT cut gets passed on.

After reading through the comments posted after my own yesterday afternoon, it seems the consensus of the general readership is that the MacBook should not have been awarded the best design award 2008. The fact that it is the opinion of Trusted Reviews, and likely will not be changed, doesn't dampen my enthusiasm or glee that I am not in the minority. As mentioned yesterday, I look forward to next year's awards which will no doubt be as eventful.

@ravmania - I agree with your comment regarding lacklustre advances in this year's technology. Most items that I am interested in, or have bought, this year are merely evolutionary in their respective fields, rather than revolutionary. The Wii is the last item I can recall that really revolutionised the market. The fact that a Sony console could be usurped from pole position in the gaming industry would have been deemed blasphemous if stated in 2004, but here we are, with Sony's latest console in last place. I always had faith in Nintendo, as they have been pioneers in the gaming industry since practically its inception, and will no doubt continue to do so for a long time yet.

In addition, how exactly could an iPod dock take best product of the year? I understand that this year has been revolutionarily redundant, with regard to products, but it is a sad day when all that is left at the top of the heap, by Trusted Reviews’ viewpoint, is an iPod dock. Honestly, these have been out for years in many shapes and forms. There is a plethora of options, all doing, basically, the same thing, yet this one item somehow sits atop of not only the aforementioned lot, but every single product released this year. When an accessory for an overhyped product receives the most prestigious award in a collection of awards, it is a sad day for us all.

And before I am accused of not liking Apple, yet again, I find 3rd place in the “Best Smartphone” category should have went to either the Nokia E51, as it drove smartphones into the hands of the general consumer due to its diminutive size, chrome accented design and excellent feature set, or the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 due to its unique panel interface, high-resolution touchscreen display, a slide-out keyboard, so thankfully users won’t be dependent on sub-par virtual keyboards, and an excellent range of wireless connectivity. I also find that Sony’s KDL-32W4000 LCD should have got a look-in in the “Best TV under £1,000”.

I completely agree with the Macbook design award; it's a beautiful notebook. In fact, you tend to find that the majority of people that slate Macbooks are those who compare the specifications to those required for a notebook to run Vista well, or the people who are conforming and hating for no particular reason.

With regards to the MP3 players though - iPod Classic all the way.

For the record, I have used almost every item I listed in the last two paragraphs of my comment; the only exclusion being the B&W Zeppelin.

My comment regarding the iPod dock was in reference to the fact that it is just an iPod dock; nothing more, nothing less. And honestly, how can a comparison be made between an iPod dock and a TV. You cannot use a portion of my comment in an attempt to twist it to suit your needs; next you will be comparing a smartphone and a desktop PC.

You should be impressed by the Kuro, even if it is not evolutionary, nether is the Zeppelin, due to the comment I made yesterday in regards to why it should have claimed the best design award; I have included it below for your perusal:

“Regarding the Pioneer, I think an update should be made to the awards, as it is not only built beautifully, it also has, as reviewed by Trusted Reviews, a separate connector module. Due to the ergonomic nature of this design, it allows a utilisation of functionality unparalleled by other manufacturers, and enables an expressionistic tour de force of modern design to excel where others could not.”

Granted, the separate connector module is not unique, as it was present on a past Pioneer model, but blessed with the sleek lines of the display, and the astounding functionality the display offers, it should surely have been given the top-spot over the Zeppelin.

@Riyad - Because he's on the Internets, and therefore his opinion is right, duh... ;)

I haven't heard anything from you in a long long time, by the way.

Any reader commenting on this or other threads in relation to technology products will of course not have tested every single product in a particular field, but that does not mean their opinion is any less relevant. Trusted Reviews does not review every single technology product, within every single technology category available in the UK, so by the same rationale, can you say that Trusted Reviews' opinion is all encompassing and all knowing? Of course not. I would think that a user's opinion, based upon their use of certain items and their perusal of other review sources, is clear evidence of the good and bad items that are currently available in the market. Since other review sites, with regard to disc players and TVs, show factual evidence of tests carried out on items, it would be quite evident from that fact that certain items would be technically superior or inferior, as the case may be, to each other as factual evidence, and not anecdotal, can be used as a barometer of quality and technical prowess.

Mmmm, grammar fap. Though, not really an answer to the question.

@Riyad

Using OS X is better than being stabbed in the face. Oh, here we go.

Yeah, it's always your excuse, but I'll let you off as I have been too busy to hassle you about it constantly as well. Regardless, I look forward to hearing from you.

What you're basically saying then is that nobody can comment on the awards if they haven't used all the items contained within. If that is the case, then the comments section for this article shouldn’t exist because, apart from other review websites and people with an inordinate amount of money and a lot of spare time, nobody else could have used all the items reviewed by Trusted Reviews to fall into your criteria for having a valid opinion.

I am also glad that opinions and feedback is welcomed by the staff of Trusted Reviews, as us mere mortals would be then oblivious to how the staff thinks.

@Rsaeire - Honestly, how many paragraphs of drivel do you have to type before you accept a point without grabbing it by the hand and skipping through the park of delusion and misunderstanding?

It's pretty obvious that if you've only used one of three products, then your rights to say that the product you have used is better than the other two products are unjust because you haven't compared them all.

Well, if I want to reach the sheer amount of pointless posts you've reached across this site, I'd say there still has to be at least, say... 500 posts left in me. ;)

Wohoo, Glad i'm not involved in that one!

Just to say that, on the whole, I think that the team of TR reviewers are an honest bunch and I value their opinion...which is why I bother to chip in now and again. Ok, so occasionally their editorial slant on a product may rub people up the wrong way, but it's all just an (educated & informed) opinion and it's not written in blood.

The controversy really starts when a specific reporting media opinion becomes so coveted by the manufacturer that it directly effects their product line-up & even livelihood. I think TR's got a way to go yet!

At the end of the day we'll all vote with our wallets.

@Darfuria "Honestly, how many paragraphs of drivel do you have to type before you accept a point without grabbing it by the hand and skipping through the park of delusion and misunderstanding?"

Nice line. Can I use that one?! :)

@lifethroughalens - Only if you buy me lunch.

@Rsaeire - If that is the case, then the comments section for this article shouldn’t exist because

Nothing wrong with comments Rsaeire, but you seem to be on a mission to make everyone agree with you. The people at TR have made a list of what they believe are the best in each category, TR are not forcing you to agree, so wouldn't it seem fair that you do the same.

Awh, and here I was thinking that this had come to a swift end.

Well, swift when I joined in :P

Can we not push on to a 100 posts for the record?
:-)

I like these comparison articles where products are compared against each other and the winner is selected, sometimes it can be hard to decide which is the best when you are looking to buy something, and personally its a nice feeling when you see something that you have spent your hard earned cash on appear in the awards section! :-)

Just read the awards article & then looked forward to the comments.

Big disapointment to find it dominated by a fruitcake with a grudge and an old pals reunion discussing lunch dates.

Is there no moderator on this site. Lots of people would have opinions but, like me, not in this childish atmosphere.

As I said a big disapointment!

Sivart

Great job Riyad. Have been following the site for a long time but only just decided to register.
Rsaeire and Singularity -- have ye any lives to lead? I should think that, for your own livelihood and happiness, you ought to follow the advice given in Shawshank Redemption: "Get busy living, or get busy dying." obviously, it would be better to do the former rather than the latter.
One small point though -- i wonder, what with Google Chrome, Firefox 3, Internet explorer 8 etc, whether this article could have done with a "best browser" section.
otherwise, great.

@Sivart .. I agree with you to a degree. I dont have the funds to be fortunate to be able to buy a B&W Zeppelin, and therefore look forward to reviews of such products here @ TR. No matter what Riyad (other TR staff say)says, there will also be some contention. I bought a Samsung G600 phone for Xmas .. mainly because of the brilliant review here. As it happens, i dont like it & have gone back to my Nokia 6300. I also have a Nokia E71 (which another user was raving about) & I aint too keen on that either.

So what am I trying to say? Well this .. I find the TR site just about the most "accurate" place to go to read products reviews, and generally I find the conclusions produced "weigh in" with my own needs. I bought a Canon Pixma MP610 on the strength of its review & its brilliant! I also bought a Fuji S9600 camera purely on the review here & what a blinder! Brilliant choice & a brilliant review - altho very controversial at the time! 10 / 10 for a camera that I bought for £199!!

The arguments put forward about B&W Zeppelin as an iPod docking station do produce a smile on my face. I can many years ago, someone in Hi-Fi News stating "the wider you open the windows, the more the muck flies in", and having an iPod myself, I cannot but agree with this statement .. as the audio quality of the Apple iPod is well documented to be "questionable". Poor audio in - poor audio out!

BUT .. at least TR do actually carry out reviews of products tested. Some years back (in an earlier life) I was involved heavily in the PC MIDI market & ran a well know UK PC MIDI company distributing such products as Music Quest MIDI cards, CardD DAW card & Cadenza sequencing software (Gordon .. are you reading this? You & I have had several chats in the past about some of these products.)

On one occasion I was approached by a well known MIDI Music mag (no names mentioned, but their offices were in Bath!) asking for a sample Music Quest card for "head to head" review. I had always had my suspicions about the "authenticity" of reviews carried out by this Mag, & so I sent off a card that I knew to be faulty! It simply didnt work!

We came 2nd in a head to head shoot out with other popular MIDI card! We werent asked to replace the faulty card, yet we came in 2nd place! Amazing eh?

Thanks goodness we have moved on & we have sites like TR.

Well done guys .. whilst I dont agree with all that you say, I am darned glad that you have presence on the web! Sorry for going off topic a tad!

Happy New Year!