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The entertainment world, at least where it pertains to technology, morphs, twists, turns, and fires so fast it's hard to keep up. But that's exactly why we love it. For the lowdown on the latest in PC entertainment, DVDs, consoles, and just stuff we love, read on.
  DVD Byte by Todd Doogan
 By now the holidays are over. But the releases keep coming. Here are the December DVD releases. On the 7th, be sure to check out Ben Stiller in DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, David Lynch's masterpiece Wild At Heart, the Hong Kong action hit (soon to be a Martin Scorsese remake) Infernal Affairs, and look for the beautifully done Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in B&W 2, The Complete Pluto 1, and The Mickey Mouse Club. The 14th brings us a bad Tom Cruise in Collateral, Will Smith in I, Robot, a new special edition of Raging Bull, and a little flick you might have heard of: The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (Special Extended Edition). Yeah, like that isn't already on your list. On the 21st you'll find Clive Owen in King Arthur in both rated and unrated editions, the new The Manchurian Candidate remake with Denzel, the indie fave Napoleon Dynamite, the funny and fun Shaun Of The Dead, and, of course, the not-to-be-missed and sorely tardy The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season. Closing out the month is the hilarious Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, the Sci-Fi Channel-produced Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries, the creepy shark tale Open Water, semi-zombie Milla in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (Special Edition), and the must own classic Twilight Zone: Season 1. Lots of great stuff to keep you inside when the weather is freezing in the great outdoors.
A/VCorner
Here's a hands-on look at some of the most interesting releases that we've personally checked out—and right as we went to press. (You're right, it's a difficult job, but someone has to do it: We're here for you. Movies by Samit and Music by Blaine.)
 The Chronicles Of Riddick (Unrated Director's Cut)
The disappointing sequel to 2000's "Pitch Black" returns in both a theatrical (PG-13) cut and an unrated, extended (15 minutes longer) cut. We recommend the latter, which fills in the gaps in the theatrical version, but is still unable to rectify the basic plot problems. Still, it provides a good background to the quite excellent Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay game, which we gave a glowing review in the August 2004 issue of CPU.
"Pitch Black" was a sleeper hit that did a lot on a relatively low-budget, and Vin Diesel and Director David Twohy used that success as a springboard to launch the sequel as a summer "event" movie on a much higher budget. Everything about "Riddick" was done on a grand scale, but the movie failed to live up to its hype and under delivered at the box office.
"Chronicles Of Riddick" takes place approximately five years after the events of the first film. The simplistic version of the plot: The stage is set around the invasion of Necromongers, a cultish race that assimilate the people of various planets before moving onto the next conquest. Integrate into the plot: Riddick takes on the Necromongers, and there's plenty of action. Unfortunately, the movie seems to jump too readily and the flow does not seem continuous. The new scenes that are edited back in for this unrated version help fill in the holes, but aren't enough to rescue the film and its trite dialogue. But again, as noted earlier, it's a good one to watch on DVD as back story to the excellent game.
Extras include a director's commentary track (it also features two actors from the film, but where was Diesel for this?), pop-up factoids while the film plays, special effects featurette, an Xbox demo of the game, and a few other minor odds and ends. The extras aren't bad, but you feel that there could have been a lot more. Perhaps we'll see these at the conclusion of the trilogy. Video is near-reference quality and the 5.1 audio mix is deservedly aggressive. This is definitely one for the sci-fi fans among you.
$29.98
Universal
www.thechroniclesofriddick.com
 Seinfeld: Seasons 1 & 2
Sometimes you want to watch a show about nothing. Sometimes you laugh hard about nothing at all. And sometimes you wish you had nothing to laugh about on DVD. (By this point we hope you understand that "nothing" is actually "something.) Well, "Seinfeld," the show about nothing, has finally made it onto DVD. We've seen this four-disc package for less than $30 on the street, and it's an excellent price to pay for the first 18 episodes (Season 1 contains just four shows) of one of the funniest shows to have graced television.
Extras are interspersed between discs. The Notes About Nothing are interesting trivia pop-ups for some of the included episodes. Plus you'll find the usual suspects: deleted scenes (it's obvious why these were cut), commentary tracks on certain episodes, making-of documentary ("How It All Began"), and some early stand-up footage with Jerry.
The video is remastered and looks better than it ever has before with very serviceable 2.0 audio that doesn't distract from the comedy. However, the word "remastered" is all relative; video is displayed in full screen 1.33:1, and it's not surprising to see flaws in such old source material (worst in the first season). Image quality was noticeably soft. The second and third seasons (the third season is available as a separate box set) look much better as the show progresses. Last but not least, there's a $119.95 three-season gift set with a limited edition original script, Monk's Diner salt and pepper shakers, playing cards, and all eight discs.
$49.95
Columbia Tristar
www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld
 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival
$25
Various Artits
www.repriserecords.com
Concert DVDs have become pretty much commonplace, but it's still a bit of a thrill to whip one out and be able to tell anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot, "Hey, I was there. I was there." Reading a review isn't exactly being within earshot, but, "Hey, Samit and I were there. Samit and I were at the Crossroads Festival."
Yeah, Samit and I started our summers off pretty much as perfectly as you could when we road tripped to Dallas in early June to write an article on AMD's contribution in recording the all-day Sunday concert that concluded the three-day Crossroads Festival (see "Destination Dallas" in August's CPU, page 94). We headed south specifically to interview Grammy-winner Elliot Scheiner, an engineering/recording guru who helped record the show in 5.1 surround using AMD dual-Operaton-based DAW64 workstations.
The festival itself was three days of guitar fanatics from around the world seeing and doing all things guitars, including seminars, guitar flea markets, and of course music. Clapton personally asked his favorite guitarists to play the event, which benefited his Antigua drug and alcohol treatment facility.
The performances that make up the two-DVD set include tunes recorded Saturday on a smaller stage outside the Dallas' Cotton Bowl to about 5,000 or so fans. Other songs come from Sunday's show inside the Cotton Bowl in front of about 70,000 people. Having been at both shows, the best performances may have come on Saturday night, when the music was looser and full of spontaneity. Watching Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Vaughn, and Robert Cray drop piercing solos all through "Sweet Home Chicago" again was worth this set's purchase price alone.
Crossroads features absolute masters at work on blues, country, rock, jazz, fusion, and Latin tunes. From Steve Vai's electrifying, show-stealing "I'm The Hell Outta Here" to Carlos Santana and Clapton teaming on "Jingo" to James Taylor and Joe Walsh oddly bonding on "Steamroller," the DVDs are the next best thing to having actually been in Dallas. ZZ Top, Johnny Lang, Eric Johnson, J.J. Cale, John Mayer, and Robert Randolph also make the DVDs. Do we have a few complaints? Well, we'd much prefer having the one and only song Jeff Beck played vs. two songs from Vince Gill, and not including Bo Diddley is inexcusable, but that's just about where the complaining stops.
If you play guitar (which we do), consider these two discs the best and possibly only guitar instructional manual you'll ever need. If you wanted to be in Dallas for the festival but couldn't make it, consider this set a must have. Clapton and the project's producers obviously opened their pocketbooks to film the show, and the results are stellar. Camera angles focus on picking and fret boards, where guitarists want the focus to be. Corny crowd shots are kept to a minimum, and the lighting is vastly superior to the murky darkness that's usually typical of many concert DVDs.
Even while watching the shows live, we knew plans were in the works for this set and a subsequent PBS broadcast of the festival. After spending even a short amount of time with Scheiner and seeing firsthand how he was going to record the shows, we knew the resulting sound would be incredibly mixed and sound excellent. And it does. On the three 5.1 surround systems we tested on the set on, the detail was always stunning.
As guitar junkies and fans of most of the musicians who appeared at Crossroads, we couldn't be happier with this set. It could have been easily stretched to four DVDs and not suffered. And the kicker? "We were there, man. We were there."
by Blaine Flamig  "Greatest Hits" (CD/DVD)
$14
Neil Young
www.repriserecords.com
If you're bothering to read past these opening words, you're probably either a longtime Neil Young fan or you've always been curious to find out what the big deal is. In truth, Young has become sort of an acquired taste as he's entered the twilight of his career. There just aren't that many new fans taking a ride on his musical train anymore. Which is a shame because Young is as relevant and trailblazing as ever. Check out last year's excellent "Greendale" if you need proof. The falloff is more of a generational thing.
So, for you hard-timers (of which we are one) and you merely-the-curious out there, here is the scoop on Young's recent "Greatest Hits" release, a collection of 16 tunes supposedly compiled "based on record sales, airplay, and known download history": Hard-timers skip this disc; merely-the-curious, buy it right away.
The main attraction of "Greatest Hits" is that the songs are the original master mixes. Our DVD-A version sounded absolutely stellar, and we heard subtle nuances that escaped us previously, even after hundreds of listens. Beyond this, however, there isn't one thing here even a casual Young fan doesn't already have, probably two or three times over. Some Young loyalists have gone as far as to accuse Young of merely cashing in with this preholiday release.
We won't go that far, but we are miffed that the entire song list dates to pre-1991, with a very heavy emphasis on the early 1970s. All 16 tracks are from Young's time on the Reprise Records, for which he released a wealth of diverse, top-notch material, reaching a peak in popularity with "Harvest," which produced "Heart of Gold," Young's only actual Top 10 hit. In fairness, though, few artists have been as prolific, experimental, and at the top of their game as Young was in the mid-1970s on Reprise.
But longtime fans already know this, and not only is there not even one previously unreleased nugget on "Greatest Hits" to entice these fans, there's little on the accompanying DVD in terms of extras. This is a bit out of character for Young, who usually takes great care in the details. We picked up the CD/DVD combo at a local Best Buy for the same price as the CD-only version, which was good. The DVD, however, didn't include much beyond a couple of Young videos that will only remind you why no one talks about the 1980s much anymore.
This brings us full circle to why you merely-the-curious should pick up "Greatest Hits." The CD is a fantastic entry point for new fans or those who missed Young's early releases the first time around. There are obviously tunes that were omitted ("Pocahontas" and "Cortez") and albums overlooked ("American Stars N' Bars") that long-timers will squeal about. But it's hard to squabble about the inclusion of such masterpieces as "Down By The River" and "Cowgirl In The Sand" from "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere," which would make any jam band today proud. Or with the finger-pointing bravado of "Southern Man" from "After The Gold Rush" or "Ohio," which Young performed with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Or the lush, country flavor of "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold."
Sure, some of us have heard "The Needle and The Damage Done" so many times the song has lost some of its original sting over the years, but if you've never given Young a chance because the quirky, hippie-stoner personae he's been (unfairly) saddled with in the last 10 to 15 years turns you off, "Greatest Hits" is a wise door to walk through. by Blaine Flamig PC-CD Medal Of Honor: Pacific Assault Director's Edition
A More Realistic Depiction Of The Horror
Shoot fast when the enemy goes Banzai on you. |
MoH: Allied Assault was universally acclaimed by critics and gamers alike. The sequel falls a bit short of the original with long load times and spotty trigger points. However, the game is embellished with superb production values, which carries the detailed story forward with you in USMC Tommy's hero boots.
The enemy often comes at you in waves, and death seems to be far more common than in Allied Assault. When up-close, enemies will break into a Banzai run, and you'll have to be quick to take them down.
Unlike Allied Assault you'll need a medic (called a corpsman) to be healed, which makes your health seem more relevant. You have the option to call on your squad for covering fire and backup, but you'll soon learn that they can't die, which ruins the immersion somewhat. There are plenty of "Wow!" moments (the PearlHarbor sequence is amazing) that will help your suspension of disbelief.
The Director's Edition adds a new weapon and several features that historians and long-time fans of the series will enjoy.Highly recommended.
$59.99 • ESRB: (T)eenElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts
www.eagames.com
Evil Genius
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"
Join me. Or die. But either way the world will be mine. (Yes, that's what I'll say at the meeting.) |
Sometimes it's fun to play the bad guy. You know, the evil genius that resides deep within and hungers for world domination. Those of you who've been around the block will remember Bullfrog's Dungeon Keeper—where the player stepped into the role of the dungeon master with the sole intention of destroying the hero. Evil Genius draws some basic inspiration from that concept but throws in a liberal mix of James Bondian villains and Dr. Evil, resulting in a mischievous ride with plenty of clever touches.
Your minions are the basic grunts, but then can be leveled up based on five attributes. They'll be key to your success along with the more loyal and powerful henchmen you employ.
Evil Genius plays out as a combination of strategy/RTS, The Sims, and an RPG. And intertwined throughout is humor, which gives the game much of its charm. The cartoon-style graphics and animation work perfectly. (Think back to how effectively Spy vs. Spy worked on the C64.) Everything is nicely animated and fits the game's spoof spy motif to a tee. The game starts out too slowly for some, but give it time and you'll find plenty to enjoy. Replayability is seriously hampered with the lack of multiplayer support.
$49.99 • ESRB: (T)een
VU Games
www.howevilareyou.com
 Vampire: The Masquerade —Bloodlines
This title may get lost in Half-Life 2's wake but deserves attention for more than just using HL2's engine. Vampire is an in-depth RPG with stunning graphics where character development actually affects gameplay.
$49.99 • ESRB: (M)ature
Activision
www.vampirebloodlines.com
 EverQuest II
The grand poobah of MMORPGs is back with an all-new sequel that will force a whole new generation of nerds back into the basement. If you're a fan, it's probably time to weigh your choices: Real life or the game? There's a good reason it's called EverCrack, you know.
$49.99 (CD, DVD) • ESRB: (T)een
Sony Online Entertainment
www.everquest2.com
 Half-Life 2 Collector's Edition
Players of Half-Life will find Half-Life 2 to be more evolutionary than revolutionary, which doesn't hurt. The expensive edition crams the game on one DVD and includes new versions of Half-Life and Counter-Strike. Watch for our full review next month.
$79.99 • ESRB: (M)ature
Sierra
www.half-life2.com
PlayStation 2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Actually, Crime Pays Pretty Well
Policemen are your friends. All except Officer Tenpenny, that is. Samuel L. Jackson brings this character to life with his usual flair. |
With so many incredible games hitting store shelves this holiday season, it's really tough to pick a clear-cut winner for game of the year, but GTA: San Andreas is clearly among the top two or three games available for any platform. Set in the early '90s in the fictional state of San Andreas, the game turns your character loose in three big cities and the countryside that lies between them.
You play as Carl Johnson (aka CJ), a guy that left the west coast and the gang life several years ago but returns to Los Santos (aka Los Angeles) upon receiving word that his mother has been killed. CJ no sooner gets off the plane when a corrupt cop (voiced by the incomparable Samuel L. Jackson) frames him for the murder of a cop. Unable to leave town at first, CJ decides that if he can't get out of Los Santos, he might as well run it, and so the fun begins.
In addition to incorporating the interactive people, places, and things that made the last two GTAs such huge hits, San Andreas delivers advanced character customization, letting you decide everything from how CJ wears his hair to whether he's skinny, buff, or fat. Combine all that with what may well be the best game soundtrack ever, and you have the new PS2 gold standard.
$49.99 • (M)ature
Rockstar Games
www.rockstargames.com/sanandreas
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Real Men Skulk In The Bushes
Snake's a bit of an antisocial chap, but he's alright when you get to know him. |
A prequel of sorts set in the Cold War world of the '60s, MGS3 opens with our intrepid hero Snake executing a HALO jump into Soviet Russia to retrieve a scientist working on a nuclear missile delivery system that could change the balance of global military power. Throughout the game, you'll sneak around lots (MGS touched off the current stealth craze) and enjoy a complex story steeped in philosophy that explains some of the events that will take place "later" in MGS and MGS2.
Of course, because this game takes place decades prior to MGS and MGS2, there's some question as to how Snake could be the same guy we've been creeping up on enemies with since the first MGS game on the PlayStation. But if you've played either of the last two games, you know identity always plays an important role in MGS.
MGS3 is more than just a gussied-up sequel, though. In addition to the striking new jungle areas, the game sports a complex camo system that helps Snake stay hidden in a variety of terrain, more involved hand-to-hand combat, and a new health system that occasionally requires you to eat jungle critters. (Thus the name.)
$49.99 • (M)ature
Konami
www.konami.com/mgs3
 Atari Anthology
Talk about a great gift for old-school gamers: The Atari Anthology for PS2 (and Xbox, by the way) includes 85 classic games and costs about 20 bucks. Made up of 18 arcade hits and 77 Atari 2600 games, the anthology recalls a simpler time in video game history.
$19.99 • (E)veryone
Atari
www.atari.com/us
 Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within
This follow-up to POP: The Sands Of Time finds the prince a bit older and a little rougher around the edges but still fighting for his life. If you liked the first game's acrobatics, stylish combat, and elaborate environments, make sure you give this one a try.
$49.99 • (M)ature
Ubisoft
www.princeofpersiagame.com
 BloodRayne 2
The half-vampire, half-human Rayne is back following her defeat of the Nazi menace. This time, she's up against a vampire army that has found a way to nullify the harmful effects of the sun. Bad news for humanity, but it's a decent plot for an action game.
$49.99 • (M)ature
Majesco
www.bloodrayne2.com
Xbox
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2
Much Better Than The Last
The new over-the-shoulder vantage point is an improvement. |
The original Ghost Recon was one of the first squad-based games available on Xbox Live and quickly won a loyal fanbase. Unfortunately, that game was ugly and not easy to play, which is why we opted not review it. It was in need of an overhaul upon its release. Ghost Recon 2 is definitely a big step in the right direction.
In a big departure from the original, in-game graphics are attractive, and the game plays smoothly during Xbox Live sessions. Another radical change is the lack of a first-person view. Instead, you look directly over your player's shoulder, which lets you see more of your surroundings.
We've played quite a few squad-based tactical shooters, and GR2 ranks as one of the better ones. Go ahead and try to run and gun your way through the game and you'll not get far. Location-based damage (especially head shots) will incapacitate you quickly. Instead you'll need to advance slowly with your squad using all the cover at your disposal. This calls for a slower pace but increases the tension ten-fold and using your Xbox Live headset to command your squadmates makes for even more immersive gameplay. Finish the single player Korean-based campaign and the multiplayer features will keep you coming back for more.
$49.99 (Xbox) • ESRB: (T)een
Ubisoft
www.ghostrecon.com
Need For Speed Underground 2
EAReturns With Mods Apenty
Blue lights under your car make you look cool. Yes, continue to believe that. |
Until last year's Need For Speed Underground, the NFS series focused primarily on exotic race cars. NFSU ushered in the opportunity to race "street exotics" as seen in movies such as "Fast And The Furious" (2001).
NFSU2 takes the game up a notch but falls flat at emulating Rockstar's Midnight Club open-ended gameplay. Exploring NFSU2's mostly empty streets is disappointing, but the game has plenty else to offer racers. Take on competitors, win cash, and tune your car to perfection—that's the joy of the game. Greater spoils will come as your reputation continues to grow and you'll be able to choose from more than 30 cars and an incredibly varied number of real-life parts for customizations.
Environments look good and the cars look decent (but not great). The cutscene accidents are pointless and seem lifted from Burnout 3. Cars don't show damage, which eats into the reality factor but is passable when you're driving at speed and power sliding into the turns.
If modding and tuning are your bag, NFSU2 will take you to 7th heaven. The racing and in-car handling are superb.
$49.95 (Xbox, PS2, NGC) • ESRB: (E)veryone
Electronic Arts
www.needforspeed.com
 StarWars:Knights Of The Old Republic II — The Sith Lords
The original was more intriguing than the two most recent "Star Wars" films, and this sequel looks to follow the pattern of excellence. KOTOR2 places the fate of the Jedi in your hands and is set five years after the original game.
$49.99 • ESRB: (T)een
LucasArts
www.lucasarts.com
 Yourself!Fitness
Not really a game per se, but more a fitness trainer for mind, body, and soul. It's a pleasure to see an Xbox exclusive that goes outside the box. Now you can skip on paying monthly fees to look silly with an audience while quietly improving flexibility and attaining a zen state of mind.
$34.99 • ESRB: (E)veryone
Microsoft Game Studios
www.xbox.com/en-US/yourselffitness
 Chessmaster
A budget price for a timeless classic you can use to improve your game or play online via Xbox Live. We've never played Chess on a console, but you know, it's surprisingly fun. Who says you can't have great games at a low price? And at $19.99, it's a veritable bargain.
$19.99 • ESRB: (E)veryone
Ubisoft
www.chessmaster.com
Halo 2
Hail To The (Master) Chief
The vanilla release of Halo 2 is great, but for $5 more you can get the Limited Collector's Edition. We're not sure how limited it is, but for your money you get an excellent tin DVD case embossed with the H2 logo and a supplemental DVD with behind-the-scenes info and a making-of featurette. |
 Ask Xbox owners what their favorite game for the system is, and a great many of them will quickly say, "Halo." But does the sequel live up to all the hype and the glitzy preorder sales numbers retailers talked about prior to the game's launch? You bet it does, and then some.
With two major exceptions, which we'll talk about in a moment, we love this game. It looks fantastic, it sports essentially the same intuitive control scheme as the first game (which has been copied to one extent or another by almost every Xbox FPS since the Xbox launch), and it gives us a chance to revisit the Master Chief's world, where humans wage a desperate struggle for survival against a ferocious alien menace whose technology far exceeds their own. Are there some clichés here and there? Yeah, but show us one good sci-fi story that doesn't borrow thematic bits from "Aliens" and other great standbys.
H2's graphics are a visual feast; the game's character models show off far more detail than in the first Halo, as do its vehicles and environments. Everything moves along at a pretty good clip, except for a few occasional stutters during cutscenes, which use the in-game engine. The sound is also superlative, with believable weapon sounds, rumbling explosions, and quality voice work. You'll find more variety among aliens and allies alike, and the selection of human and alien weapons you can use to ply the Chief's trade is highly satisfying. What's more, you can dual-wield many of the game's armaments, with the exception of what would reasonably be two-handed items such as sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and so on. We have to admit we missed the first game's assault rifle, and we also missed having a scope on the magnum (Bungie apparently tweaked the pistol due to gameplay balance issues), but these are minor complaints.
H2 also includes Xbox Live multiplayer support, with a wealth of game types and game customization features that far surpass those of H2's competition. Ironically, though, herein also lies our most bitter disappointment: the lack of two-player cooperative support over Xbox Live. We were also left seeking a bit more closure than the game's ending provides, but we liked the story enough overall to care how it ends, so that comes out in the wash.
At the end of the day, Halo 2 is not only the best FPS on Xbox; it's clearly the best Xbox game of any kind available to date. The single-player campaign mode goes by pretty quickly at the Normal difficulty level, but on Legendary, even the most seasoned players will have their hands full. Add to that the game's almost endless playability online, and Halo 2 may well be the best $50 you've ever spent.
$49.99 ($54.99 for Limited Collector's Edition) • (M)ature
Microsoft Game Studios
www.halo2.com
 Logitech MX-1000 Laser Mouse
Repeat After Me: "La-Ser"
The MX-1000 Laser Mouse is the BMW of mice. It's the best handling mouse we've laid our hands on. And that's saying something considering the number of mice we've biffed around. The ergonomics and superb features set a new input device benchmark for mice, and moving your pointer around is very, very, very (very) precise. Really, you just have to try one for yourself. It's just hard to imagine what more can be done to improve the design of a mouse other than the standard battery life gains. OK wait, there is one thing —Logitech scroll wheels sometimes need a bit more work in games. And we're not overwhelmed with the SetPoint software. You can read more about the MX-1000 in our November (page 21) and December (page 55) issues. Yeah, you can really tell how much we like it.
$79.95 • Logitech
www.logitech.com/mouse
 D-Link DGL-4300 &DGL-4100
Two New Gigabit Routers TakeAim At Gamers
Wow, since when did network routers start looking so sexy? According to D-Link, the DGL-4300 features Gigabit LAN support and is heavily optimized for gamers. We'll save the details for our coming review —needless to say we're very intrigued and look forward to some hands-on testing. The DGL-4300 features D-Link's proprietary 108Mbps wireless support and the DGL-4100 strips out the wireless connectivitywhile retaining its good looks. We'll let you
know what we think the moment we get our
grubby hands on one of these babies.
Price TBA
D-Link
www.dlink.com
 DiscHub
Clever, Cost-Friendly & Eventually Indispensable
There's nothing terribly exciting about a CD storage rack —or is there? The DiscHub is a very special rack (we say that in a good way), and it's the first time we've ever written about one. Try the DiscHub for a week and you'll be hard-pressed to live with anything less. You see, this rack is hardly ubiquitous as racks go; each of the offset 11 CD slots is fitted with a neoprene membrane so your CDs don't get scratched. The offset nature of the design lets you find the disc you need when you need it. The DiscHub is a surprisingly useful product that functions well beyond the sum of its design. (As we went to press, every DiscHub was priced at $9.99 with shipping.)
$9.99 to $15.99 (with S&H)
theDiscHub.com
www.thedischub.com
 Creative MuVo Micro N200 & Nomad MuVo TX FM
Flash-Based Digital Audio For Everywhere
Creative's new N200 is available in 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB flavors. This gadget is small and very convenient to have around. At 0.51 x 2.58 x 1.32 (HxWxD-inches), there's no excuse to not carry your music around. (And unlike an iPod, you can just swap out the single AAA battery for up to another 15 hours of music.) The only drawback is the need to have a USB 2.0 cable to transfer music. If the idea of needing a cable annoys you, then fine, do what we did and shop around for a 512MB Nomad MuVo TX FM instead. With the TX FM, you can detach the player (USB key) portion from the battery module to transfer music and data directly through your USB 2.0 port. As we went to press, it was challenging to find a vendor with the 1GB N200 or 512MB MuVo TX FM in stock, but well worth the effort once you have one in your possession.
$199.99 (1GB N200); $129.99 (512MB MuVo TX FM)
Creative Technology
www.creativelabs.com
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Ask Xbox owners what their favorite game for the system is, and a great many of them will quickly say, "Halo." But does the sequel live up to all the hype and the glitzy preorder sales numbers retailers talked about prior to the game's launch? You bet it does, and then some. 
