Paul Lester Reviews Archive

News from Paul Lester

Results 1 to 25 of 101.

Creative Zen X-Fi 2 MP3 player
Can Creative crack the touchscreen market? 20 November 2009 16:49 GMT

The Good
Excellent audio quality, decent set of ‘bud earphones supplied, bright and colourful display, good value for money

The Bad
Touchscreen operation isn’t overly responsive, no dedicated volume controls

Verdict
X-Fi fans who are willing to put up with a temperamental touchscreen will be pleased with the quality and versatility on offer here, but we were expecting a little more from Creative’s debut in this market
AVG 9.0 security software
Will this keep you safe online? 5 November 2009 10:21 GMT

The Good
Approachable interface, easy to use, free version still very appealing

The Bad
Range of tools and performance lags behind faster-evolving rivals, scan times better but still comparatively slow, few significant additions in this version

Verdict
AVG hasn’t done anything radical with version 9, and while existing users may still be satisfied with an upgrade, there are a range of more capable rivals now available
Wildcharge wireless charger
Will this free you from wires? 29 October 2009 9:34 GMT

The Good
Works well with compatible gadgets, no charge-time overhead, compact solution, charges multiple devices at once

The Bad
An expensive solution to a minor problem, still have to plug devices in with multi-adaptor

Verdict
The WildCharge isn’t going to revolutionise the industry in its current guise, but it’s an intriguing solution none the less
Norton AntiVirus 2010 - PC
A Norton a day keeps the viruses at bay? 1 October 2009 9:09 GMT

The Good
Range of innovative new features, fast and efficient scans, stylish new look, very easy to use

The Bad
Expensive

Verdict
Fast scan times, low system overheads and an intuitive and approachable new interface offer extra appeal and as such it’s difficult to think of a more capable "antivirus" product on the market
Guitar Hero 5 - Nintendo Wii
The start of a new era in rhythm rocking? 18 September 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Wide-ranging setlist, loads of new multiplayer modes, DS compatibility for Wii owners, Party Play and Mii Freestyle are excellent additions, far more approachable to casual users

The Bad
Instrument calibration is awkward

Verdict
Activision has really pushed the boat out with Guitar Hero 5, creating the most approachable and enthralling rhythm-rocking game to date
Lexmark Prevail PRO705 printer
Looking for a mid-range all-in-one? 11 September 2009 16:00 GMT

The Good
Compact and stylish design, easy to set-up and use, range of useful features, decent text output

The Bad
Photo quality prints are generally quite poor

Verdict
Despite the fact that the Prevail doesn’t excel in any one area, it’s a solid enough offering for text-based tasks and would suit the home or small office
Dane-Elec SO G-Stream media streamer
Looking for a budget streamer? 4 September 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Tidy design, built-in wireless, twin-USB and memory card reader, decent performance

The Bad
Basic, unfriendly interface, lack of media control, format support could be better

Verdict
The SO G-Stream may be cheap but even at this price point it’s a difficult one to recommend
Iolo System Mechanic 9 - PC
Can this speed up your computer? 12 August 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Wide range of tools, automated operation, well organised interface, plenty of information available

The Bad
Performance increases may not be noticeable, hogs resources when correcting problems, corrections often require restarts

Verdict
Despite a few minor issues this extensive collection of optimising tools is a versatile and effective way of cleaning up a PC
RealNetworks RealPlayer SP - PC
A tidy media solution? 6 August 2009 16:00 GMT

The Good
Free download and conversion of online video, well integrated components, easy to use

The Bad
Lack of generic conversion formats, community/online aspect can still be overbearing

Verdict
Existing fans of Real Media will be pleased with this new iteration, but we don’t think there’s quite enough innovation here to drag in the mass-market
LaCie LaCinema Black MAX media streamer
A streamer worthy of LaConsideration? 31 July 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Slimline design, easy to set up and use, excellent streaming performance, impressive PVR functionality

The Bad
Basic remote control, basic interface, expensive

Verdict
It’s difficult to criticise the LaCinema Black MAX in terms of usability and performance, but for this price it’s difficult to give it a full recommendation as well
Grand Designs Self Build and Development - PC
Dreaming of a self build home? 30 July 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Massive range of objects and interiors, drag and drop system makes it very fast to use, extremely flexible

The Bad
Presentation a little disappointing, wealth of options available can be daunting, occasional graphical glitches

Verdict
Self Build & Development is an approachable way to design a home and offers an impressive level of detail and fine-tuning
LG W2353 monitor
Looking for a Full HD monitor? 23 July 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Full 1080p HD, range of useful features and controls, good black levels, tidy design

The Bad
Colour reproduction could be a little better, control panel can be awkward to operate

Verdict
We say: This is a very capable new entry from LG that addresses a wide range of environments for the modern user
Guitar Hero Greatest Hits - Nintendo Wii
Worthy of the "greatest hits" title? 15 July 2009 19:37 GMT

The Good
All master tracks, supports full instrument set, approachable structure, online play and character customisation

The Bad
Lack of DLC, no new features of note

Verdict
Many fans will dispute the track-choice in this "best-of" album, but the master-track conversion and full instrument compatibility should be enough of a pull
HP Officejet 6000 printer
Perfect for your home office? 9 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Fast speeds, impressive print quality for text and photos

The Bad
Lengthy set-up, lack of extra features, bulky, uninspiring design, rather pricey

Verdict
The Officejet 6000 is a solid enough offering, but for this price we don’t think it offers enough to compete with rivals
ABBYY PDF Transformer 3.0 Pro - PC
Your complete PDF solution? 8 July 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Good support for MS Office formats, multiple document conversion, fast and easy to use, supports the latest standards

The Bad
Pretty expensive, lack of PDF editing features

Verdict
PDF Transformer does its job well and is extremely fast and easy to use, but the cost will need to be justified with good use of the more advanced features
Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso - PC
Will you be converted? 2 July 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Glossy, streamlined interface, very easy to use, range of helpful presets, batch and custom conversion

The Bad
Custom export formats a little restricted, quite expensive

Verdict
MediaShow Espresso looks great, is a joy to use and if its restrictions won’t pose a problem this is a very nice way to convert video
Creative Zen MX MP3 player
Can Creative’s media players still compete? 24 June 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Impressive range of media control and customisable features, decent audio and video performance, high storage capacities, SD card slot, excellent value for money

The Bad
Only supports proprietary video formats, design a little uninspiring

Verdict
Creative offers a hell of a lot for your money with the Zen MX, despite some minor foibles and a bit of a dated design
Mini Coyote GPS safety camera alert system
Do you feel the need for speed? 23 June 2009 18:01 GMT

The Good
Clear visual and audible warnings, accurate positioning, reports current speed and distance to target

The Bad
Bulky, unattractive design, limited array of features, extremely expensive

Verdict
Those in the market for a speed camera alert system will find this to be very capable, but for the price the Mini Coyote is nowhere near as practical as a standard GPS
Gyration Air Mouse Go Plus
Does Gyration’s latest Air Mouse offer anything new? 12 June 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Tidy, comfortable design, wide range of custom controls, easy to set-up and configure, 30 meter range

The Bad
Only really effective for presentations and media access, uncomfortable to use as a regular mouse

Verdict
The Air Mouse Go Plus offers an impressive degree of control but is only really useful in a handful of environments
e-pens Mobile Notes
Sick of transcription? 5 June 2009 16:00 GMT

The Good
Tidy setup, accurate OCR conversion, can be used as a mouse

The Bad
Stylus feels a little cheap and can become uncomfortable after extended use

Verdict
For those who regularly have to transcribe handwritten notes, this could save a good deal of time and effort
Netgear EVA9150 media streamer
A complete streaming solution? 15 May 2009 16:00 GMT

The Good
Excellent performance and media support, access to online content, easy to configure and use, range of extra features

The Bad
Minor issues with the interface, no USB-host connection, very expensive

Verdict
For those serious about sharing media collections around the home and viewing video online, this is the most effective solution we’ve seen to date, if you can afford it
Hauppauge WinTV MiniStick HD TV tuner
Will this get you TV on the move? 7 May 2009 16:37 GMT

The Good
Portable design, straightforward setup and operation, 7-day EPG and scheduler

The Bad
Needs a rooftop aerial and a powerful PC, supplied antenna not good enough, not a lot of advanced features on offer

Verdict
The MiniStick HD isn’t even worth considering unless you have a powerful computer and are happy to rely on a rooftop aerial, but in this situation it’s capable enough.
Freecom Mediaplayer II media streamer
Your HD streaming solution? 4 May 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Fairly easy to set up and use, basic functionality works well enough

The Bad
Poor interface, limited media control, lack of additional features, expensive to add wireless support

Verdict
The Mediaplayer II isn’t nearly enough of an improvement over it’s capable precedessor. A poor interface and lack of extra features means it’s unlikely to make an impact in this market
Sennheiser CX 380 Sport II headphones
Will these see you round the Marathon? 24 April 2009 9:00 GMT

The Good
Protection against the elements, secure, comfortable fit, impressive all-round performance

The Bad
Lengthy cable a little untidy, colour may not appeal to all

Verdict
The CX 380 Sport II are tough and versatile enough to appeal to sporting types and audiophiles alike
EZY MyXerver MX3600 media server
A great price, but does it deliver? 20 April 2009 12:00 GMT

The Good
Sleek, tidy design, solid performance, silent operation, easy set-up

The Bad
Advanced features a little awkward to manage, only one USB port

Verdict
As a no-nonsense solution the MX3600 succeeds and despite being a little awkward to manage in terms of additional features, the low price makes the effort worthwhile