When it comes to technology, there's plenty of gadgets and gizmos that have earned huge amounts of initial praise, but don't live up to the hype. And for every overrated product, there's an equivalent that is vastly underrated and doesn't get the respect it deserves. We've put together a list of 10 most-hyped tech products available and the most underrated rival.
1. Overrated: Touch interface; Underrated: A good keyboard
Apple's touch-screen interface on the iPhone makes navigation easy, but who wants to type even a haiku on that screen? Instead of endlessly stabbing at a soft keypad, give the Sidekick a try. T-Mobile's qwerty keyboard remains the best one we've seen on any mobile phone - spacious and easily stowable. If only more smartphone makers would follow and improve on the Sidekick's design as our only complaint with the Sidekick is we'd have preferred a deeper OS and less emphasis on the teen scene.
2. Overrated: Nintendo Wii; Underrated: Sony PlayStation Portable
More than two years after their debut, Wiis are still tough to find in stores. In that time, Nintendo has released just enough great games (and non-games like Wii Fit) to tease gamers. Nintendo continues to develop new peripherals such as the WiiSpeak speakerphone attachment (coming this autumn), but the company says that only a handful of marquee titles will appear by the end of 2008.
In contrast, Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) continues to gain unique titles and cool features - if you have a Wi-Fi connection (having a PlayStation 3 doesn't hurt either). Now in its second generation, the PSP offers Skype, internet radio, the ability to upload movies from a PS3 directly to your handheld, and downloadable translation travel packs. Plus, you can play games remotely and view content stored on your PlayStation 3 over a Wi-Fi network.
3. Overrated: Mini laptops; Underrated: Ultraportable laptops
A serviceable, compact laptop for around £300? It sounds tempting if you're on a tight budget and have modest processing needs. Mini-laptops are small and easy to love. But try doing anything fancier than sending email or composing a document, and you'll long to upgrade to an Etch A Sketch. Intel's Atom CPU gives very small devices decent power - but hundreds of pounds to do a handful of tasks adequately? Hmm.
Meanwhile, full-blooded laptops that can easily outperform a mini-notebook are getting more affordable every day. For example, Lenovo's X61, a 12.1in ultraportable, sells for about £1,100. It offers more flexibility and will resist obsolescence better than any current or near-future mini-notebook will.
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Comments
zzzxxx said: a word of caution to anyone considering a zune 120gb playeryesterday i purchased and after two trips to the store and about 8 hours of my time i will be returning the zune todaythe software - which has to be downloaded it does not come in the box - will not install on my year old toshiba laptop running vista home premiumthe bar indicating the install process gets to 96 and then comes up with error message 0x80070643microsofts page is very vague as to what is exactly wrongdoing a web search i found many complaints from people not being able to get their zune to run on their pcmy fault that i didnt do this search beforehand but i assumed that two products from microsoft would actually work togethervery presumptious of meoh well back to my old iRiver 20gb player and media monkey
Mike Skinner said: and Blu-ray audio rocks too ok grandad what else No that really does sound like something an old man like Bruce Forsythe would say and the dancing rocked too or even a Swede or a Swedish Dad I can just imagine an old Swedish man saying in faux EnglishSwedish accent and Blu-ray audio rocks too
ThisGuy said: Nice article you bring up some good points especially about some of the few decent things Vista does but I still prefer my XPUbuntu dual boot Also I agree about the Ipod touch being an overrated gadget Any old mp3 player will get the job done but most people want the status symbol cool that owning an Ipod bringsAs for you whiny clowns posting about Sony fanboys grow up You show yourselves to be exactly what you are suckers for Nintendos garbage systems Thanks for retarding the progress of the video game industry this generation you idiots
Voiceofreason said: LOL the PSP is the one thats over rated It is a portable GAMING system after all yet most of the benefits you talk about have nothing to do with gaming You also speak of software There are only a handful of titles for the system that are worth owning The control scheme for most games is crippled by the lack of any secondary analog stick or alternative
Relax, guys said: Wow when someone makes a critic towards Nintendo or Apple suddenly revolt comesCome on people Its only his opinion how about giving a reason why theyre wrong instead of just calling him a fanboy or full of failGuess everyone turns into a troll when faced with different opinions
RocketSauceJosh said: Facebook Are you serious Facebooks overrated What about MySpace Facebooks so not overratedAnd the iPod Umm Im pretty sure it was a landmark in portable music goodness
rocco said: has anyone seen this device called the Mishake its sooo cool my mate has one its a defo ipod killer
wiki said: stupid Sony fanboy go commit suicide
Seriously? said: 10 POPULAR gadgets vs the underdogs most of which a lot of people have never even heard ofSeriously since when is half of this stuff overrated iTunes nobody said you HAVE to buy the music off there You can import just as easily as any other music programAnd im pretty sure theres more full qwerty devices cough blackberrycough out there than there are touch screen devices Touch screen has just recently become popularWay to stay on top of the trends did you get half your unoriginal ideas out of a magazine
JoeC said: If Darren Gladstone is a contributor to PC Advisor Expert advice you can trust - then god help us Surely this article is nothing more than a bait trapTake mini laptops as opposed ultra laptops for example erm hello People like them as they are sub 200 and allow MOST things that someone needs on a daily basis access to web emails and simple document - nope spend 900 more because it does the same - only a bit better And has he tried to work for a day with vista It has to be one of the worst stability OSs I have ever seen - particularly in connection with Adobe softwareWelcome to the real world Darren
J said: This article is spot on unfortunately people are posting stupid insults because they are offended Its too bad everyone is so ignorant
Cam said: The person who wrote this article must have severe brain damage
Not That Geeky said: I just about expected a Why Dungeonsamp Dragons is better than women page You forgot to mention the gamesutilities for the iPod touchiPhone vs the Sidekick You havent played around with either much the way you mentioned the accelerometer
sony fanboy said: since when is wii overrated lol
This is fail said: This is made of Sony fanboy fail