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.
7. Overrated: Google Apps; Underrated: OpenOffice 3.0
Google's productivity web apps are great for teams working online that want to share calendars and documents. But Google Apps is online only and ulti¬mately is just a couple of applications. What we need is a full-fledged productivity suite that's completely compatible with Microsoft Office files, can work across multiple OSs, and is free. Oh, wait - that suite already exists.
If you haven't taken the time to check out OpenOffice in the past, you owe it to yourself to do so now.
8. Overrated: Adobe Photoshop CS4 ; Underrated: Paint.Net
Photoshop has been the gold-standard image editor for ages. It is continually upgraded with new features, and it remains one of the few image editors that supports four-color (CMYK) mode - essential for print work. But people who work online in three colors (RGB) don't need CMYK mode. All image editors - including Photoshop Elements, which costs a small fraction of what Photoshop CS4 costs - can handle RGB.
But why pay at all? Paint.Net is free. This small, unassuming program performs many basic image editing tasks, works quickly, and mimics the tools and functions that are found in other image editors (so it should be easy to learn).
9. Overrated: Windows XP; Underrated: Windows Vista
When it comes to Windows, there's no doubt users are dismayed by the needless bloat of Vista and would rather see Windows XP re-instated. But didn't everyone have the same critique of Windows XP when it first galumphed into public view like an unsteady rubber monster?
What did Vista get right? For starters, though the User Account Control feature is like an annoying little sister who constantly pokes you, it makes Vista more secure than XP. Vista also trounces XP in handling mobile devices, networking, multimedia files, and photos. On top of that, it has a cleaner, more navigable interface - one eerily reminiscent of a certain Mac operating system.
10. Overrated: Streaming video; Underrated: Blu-ray disc
Streaming video gets all the buzz: from YouTube to even being able to catch the Beijing Olympics via a PC!
But we haven't seen streaming video images as impressive as those on Blu-ray disc (and Blu-ray audio rocks, too). The detail, clarity, and depth of Blu-ray trump the lower-bit-rate product that streaming video offers every time. That's not to say that streaming isn't convenient: You just click and go, with no packaging to fuss with and no disc to load. But with Blu-ray (the successor to the DVD), you don't have to worry about broadband-network data caps or hiccups in the service.
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