PCWorld Ranks The 100 Best Products of 2005

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,120763,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/arti...d,120763,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/120763-wc100.gif" /><br /><br />PCWorld published a 12-page article that starts with the Product of the Year (Mozilla Firefox) and then covers the best of various categories. The full list of 100, which can be found <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,120763,pg,12,00.asp">here</a>, is all-inclusive. I have to admit, I know this is a highly subjective task, but there were some head-scratchers on this list. The good news is that the top 2 products (Mozilla Firefox and Google GMail) are free. Now whether you agree they deserve recognition as the top 2 is another story. There's also the question of why PCWorld is ranking the best of 2005 when 2005 isn't even half complete. ;) For what it's worth, the Dell Axim x30 was the only Windows Mobile device on the list at #69 (while the Treo 650 was #10). Give this a look! I'd love to hear your opinions!

[James Fee]

I'll let Ed Bott's post on his weblog speak to how I feel about the list.

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000755.html

[whydidnt]

This list is pretty worthless. When did they write the article, on 1/1/05? The X30 is a 2004 device. Surely the X50v or Hx4705 could have made the list for their VGA goodness. At least it's good to know that the editorial staff that creates this list doesn't read this rag either. ( I read Ed Bott's site, mentioned above.) :?

[Ward]

I thought that too, Opera is easily Firefoxs equal. Being smaller, faster, more powerful, more standards compliant and safer seems to have completly passed PC World.

Moreover, I'm dissapointed that the x50v wasn't chosen - it is unbelievably popular and technically ahead in terms of its price.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

This list is pretty worthless. When did they write the article, on 1/1/05? The X30 is a 2004 device. Surely the X50v or Hx4705 could have made the list for their VGA goodness. At least it's good to know that the editorial staff that creates this list doesn't read this rag either. ( I read Ed Bott's site, mentioned above.) :?
Actually, I was digging into their PDA recommendations a bit and it does appear that they have already evaluated the hx4705. In fact, they have the hx4705 ranked as fifth best PPC while the x30 is indeed first. I think price was a big consideration along with tech specs.

[Darius Wey]

Sometimes, I question the integrity of all these Top X lists released by mainstream media companies. Sure, there are some that I'd agree with, but there are also quite a few products in there which date back to the stone age. :?

[mr_Ray]

Well their 2nd place product isn't even a product yet (GMail - still in beta) and there any many that you'd be hard pressed to describe as a product (Eg the archive.org website)

Oh well. :D

[farnold]

PCWorld more and more mixes up between reporting on topics and sharing individuals opinions. This list is not about best products but about gievn a biased opinion more credibility than it deserves.

[ricksfiona]

Yes, I think the list is pretty worthless. I've bought the magazine maybe once or twice during the year. I've worked with some of the people who compile lists of these types and you'd be scared to know how little they really know.

BTW, the only computer magazine I pick up is Maximum PC. They are the ones who really do a good job on the computer technology side as far as I'm concered. I'm a subscriber to that magazine, but would gladly pay the $9 an issue. It's worth it most of the time.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

BTW, the only computer magazine I pick up is Maximum PC.
Yup. That makes two of us. :)

[Steve Jordan]

The problem with this list is that it mixes up too many disparate items... PC hardware, PC software, games HW, web sites, web vendors, web-based services, and oh, yeah, the rear-projection TV... what kind of intelligent list are you gonna get from all that?

They should have broken their lists down to more sensible and manageable areas. This list isn't particularly useful.