The 100 Best Products of 2008

This year's tech gems—including the iPhone, Eye-Fi, Flock and Facebook—will leave you more productive, connected, and entertained.

By Mark Sullivan

PAGE 3

The 100 Best Products, Numbers 11 through 20

Netflix

11. Netflix (DVD rental and online video site, $5/month and up) Though it started as a DVD-by-mail service, Netflix offers an ever-widening array of movies, TV shows, and documentaries that you can stream instantly to your PC. With any of the service's DVD-by-mail plans you can watch as much streaming video content as you want. Site

X-box

12. Microsoft Xbox Live (online service, $59/year) You can download a lot more than game demos from Xbox Live. Other options are full retail software, independent and home-brew games, expansion packs, music, weekly video updates for gamers, TV shows, and HD movies. Site

iPod Touch

13. Apple iPod Touch (media player, $299-$499) The iPod Touch's beautiful design, 3.5-inch (and 480-by-320-pixel) multitouch screen, built-in Wi-Fi, and useful array of applications (such as Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and Notes) outweigh any quibbles that might arise regarding its audio quality. Review | Check prices

Craigslist

14. Craigslist (online classifieds and discussion, free) In many cities, Craigslist is the best way to get a job, find an apartment, buy furniture, or get a date. It's not flashy or slick, but you won't see any commercial ads here, and the Best Of section is not to be missed. Site

Scrabulous

15. Scrabulous (PC game, free) This exceedingly Scrabble-like game, created by brothers Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla, has become such a popular Facebook application that Scrabble's trademark holders, Hasbro and Mattel, threatened to sue to have it removed. Site

Nintendo

16. Nintendo Wii (game console, $250) The Wii is a gateway addiction for people who don't think of themselves as gamers. The Wii's controllers encourage players to get up off the couch and move around—and soon, to engage in actual exercise! (Watch for the new WiiFit balance board coming soon.) Review | Check prices

Apple Leopard

17. Apple Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' (operating system, $129) Vista's woes may be evidence of a general decline in the popularity of Microsoft Windows; meanwhile, Apple's new Leopard operating system has users buzzing over the Mac yet again. Review | Check prices

Apple Cinema Display

18. Apple Cinema HD Display (23-inch LCD monitor, $899) This 1920-by-1200-pixel-resolution monitor renders text sharply, and images and video beautifully. It looks pretty good on the outside, too, with its cool industrial design. Site

Twitter

19. Twitter (social networking site, free) Imagine a hybrid of blogging and text messaging—that's Twitter. People seem polarized over this quirky tool, either loving or hating it, but Twitter has helped pioneer an age of social networking in real or near-real time. Site

Pioneer Kuro

20. Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD (50-inch plasma HDTV, $3500) The Kuro's great design, vivid color, and deep black levels impress us mightily. Too bad you have to take out a loan to buy one. Review | Check prices

products

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Mobile MarketSpace
Retooling IT for a Mobile Workforce
Check out this research note from IDC for guidance. Learn more »
The Continued Evolution of Wireless Mobility
Learn about the two leading 4G technologies, the current status of deployed 4G networks, and how to manage long-term 4G costs Learn more »
Thinking About Deploying Mobile Broadband?
Explore lessons and best practices experienced by companies that have deployed mobile broadband to their workforce. Learn more »
Improving Healthcare Delivery with Role-Enabled Communications
Today, more healthcare IT organizations than ever are interested in implementing UC applications in a planned, cost effective manner. In order to meet their tremendous potential for improved healthcare delivery requires far more than UC; it requires role-enabled communications. Learn more »
Mobility Enables True Unified Communications
Deploying UC in conjunction with a mobility solution can increase employee productivity and improve customer service enabling workers to more easily collaborate from disparate locations. Learn more »
Making Consumer TwoFactor Authentication Cost-Effective
Offering your customers the security of two-factor authentication can help you boost your online business. Learn more »
Solve Five Key IT Security Challenges
Get a high level of security with minimal user impact. Learn more »
 
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