what has been your favourite product of 2009

Zardon · Dec 9, 2009, 08:56 PM

This thread is to share your views on your favourite piece of tech gadgetry of 2009. It can be a graphics card, a processor, a walkman, a flash drive, a new computer chair, a keyboard, a tv. Anything at all.

I will probably opt for the Panasonic Viera NEOPDP plasma with 600hz refresh - love it.

Bolletje · Dec 9, 2009, 09:26 PM

Probably my Sitecom LN-118 switch. 5-ports 10/100 :P

It was cheap and it has never failed

(you expected high-end stuff, didn't you :P?)

Optix · Dec 9, 2009, 09:52 PM

This may have been out before 2009 but...

'Star Wars': R2D2 Projector With Millennium Falcon Remote

Tyrsonswood · Dec 9, 2009, 09:58 PM

I have to go with the ATI 5770........ Two reasons.

1. It's a great piece of hardware!

2. It's the only new tech I've seen this year, or last year...... year before that.

mkk · Dec 10, 2009, 12:39 AM

Of what I've actually procured, it's something as simple as a standard harddrive. I was surprised that the 1TB Samsung F3 was not only as quiet as I expected, but very noticeably faster as well, starting games like Modern Warfare 50% faster than on my F1's. It also remains inexpensive while SSD's are up together with all DRAM prices. I'd by a third or fourth if only they were not currently out of stock locally and my old(and probably redundant) rule of preferably not buying harddrives around the holiday season.

Edit: An honorable mention of a product that isn't exactly fresh on the market. The InWin BK623 Mountain Jade proved to be a great little HTPC case that has some smart internals and comes with a decent FSP 300W small size PSU without being expensive. It's the base for my HTPC/LAN/light gaming system that is just waiting for a HD5670 card to top it off.

EcPercy · Dec 10, 2009, 11:40 AM

Zune HD. It's a huge leap forward from the old hard drive based Zune's.

niceguyrichy · Dec 10, 2009, 12:37 PM

well I got a pair of Altec Lansing headphones this year, just cos they were really cheap tbh, but i was pleasantly surprised by them.
they were stupidly bright out of the box, but once they've been played in a bit they're really not bad sounding.
easily comparable with my senn px100's

i'm sure there's been better stuff, but i wasn't expecting much from the headphones so they kinda stuck in my mind.
they're not the prettiest things though..

ET3D · Dec 10, 2009, 12:57 PM

I'd have to say the UMID M1 (which I'm sure I mentioned before). Not that I've seen one in person, but it has redefined for me how light a PC can be. At 315g it's lighter than the Psion 5mx I had (years ago), but it's a fully blown Windows device, with a 1024x600 screen resolution. The 512MB is a bit of a downer, but the M2 should fix that, as well as some other issues.

BlueMak · Dec 10, 2009, 01:59 PM

From products that I bought over the last 12 months, games aside, my "vote" go to AVerTV Hybrid Volar HD H830 external (USB2) TV tuner. I have owned a few tv tuners over the years and this is by far the best. Very fast, lots of options, great at recording etc. I can't think of a single thing I would like it to be better at. It's that good. And cheap!
AVerMedia AVerTV Global - AVerTV TV Tuners and Multimedia Products - AVerTV Hybrid Volar HD

From products I do not own, my "vote" goes to the king AMD's 5970. A behemoth of performance that nothing can stop it at "normal" resolutions. For me this is easily my favourite product of 2009.

Judas · Dec 10, 2009, 03:46 PM

i think i'll pick the 5770 as well

Lowfat · Dec 15, 2009, 01:57 AM

Is this for products released in '09 or for products I purchased in '09 but came out earlier?

If for something I purchased that was released a few years ago definitely my Herman Miller Aeron chair. Computing has never been more comfortable. I can easily sit in a chair 8 hours+ and not get soar.

If it was something released in 2009. My vote would go for the HD 5870's. I still down own one but it is a very impressive product.

press · Dec 15, 2009, 02:33 AM

this

RobertBruce · Dec 15, 2009, 04:35 AM

JUST finally got a SONY KDL-40V5100. Saving up for a neflix enabled blu-ray player next.

procupine14 · Dec 15, 2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

Edit: An honorable mention of a product that isn't exactly fresh on the market. The InWin BK623 Mountain Jade proved to be a great little HTPC case that has some smart internals and comes with a decent FSP 300W small size PSU without being expensive. It's the base for my HTPC/LAN/light gaming system that is just waiting for a HD5670 card to top it off.

mkk I actually have that case for my HTPC as well! I love it. Such a compact design without being too bulky and it fits into my entartainment cabinet and is only 2cm taller and not at all wider than my DVR cable box

. Watch out for that PSU though. Mine was a little scary and I had to swap it in the first month with an SFF PSU from SeaSonic. Just a word to the wise but otherwise I haven't found a better case for my setup yet.

But, on further inspection, it looks like your case comes with something slightly different than mine did. All I got was a generic brand 250W PSU that almost burned me from the amount of heat it gave off.

I also love that I can put essentially any high performance GFX card in here whenever I want and I have no worries that it won't fit.

I will have to say my favorite product of 2009 thus far (my X-mas presents to self haven't arrived yet for me to verify anything else) are the ATi 5xxx series of cards. They are absolutely wonderful and one is on the way to my door as I type this. After that I would have to say LED HDTVs are on the top of my list. While I can't really tell a lot of difference between an ultra high quality LCD and an LED I love the fact that they are insanely thin and have super thin bezels

.

Also love this pair of cheap pair of COBY headphones that I got on clearance on the egg for a couple bucks. They have turned out to sound really good for $5.00. At first they were awful, the worst I've ever listened to. But after playing them at half volume and 3/4 volume for a few days they broke in and sound quite plesant now

BlueMak · Dec 15, 2009, 02:29 PM

I am sorry, but (half joking) aren't most of the HTPC cases nothing than the old desktop cases paint in black?

Tyrsonswood · Dec 15, 2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

I am sorry, but (half joking) aren't most of the HTPC cases nothing than the old desktop cases paint in black?

Not exactly...... but Yeah! They are

comp_ali · Dec 15, 2009, 03:47 PM

my new HDD WD 1TB Black Caviar. Much space to roam

procupine14 · Dec 15, 2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

I am sorry, but (half joking) aren't most of the HTPC cases nothing than the old desktop cases paint in black?

Basically yes but this case is a lot smaller than a standard old desktop case. Its about the size (like a said) of a cable box or similar device but just high enough to support full height cards. I just like this particular one because it is small and fits in my cabinet. Its just not as deep as the old desktop cases.

And I'm 99.9% sure that you COULD NOT put a CRT monitor on top of this case....it would most likely crush like a tin can.

isaak · Dec 21, 2009, 01:19 AM

Even though I don't own one, I'm gonna go with the 5870

adamosmaki · Dec 25, 2009, 09:39 AM

Although not a 2009 product but o bought it this year is my nokia n82. Amazing camera phone and aside the small screen has a great set of features

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jan 9, 2010, 03:27 PM

GTS250 even though I got this year, it was introduced last. I still love it though! Yeah EVGA!!

Dec 9, 2009, 08:56 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	what has been your favourite product of 2009 This thread is to share your views on your favourite piece of tech gadgetry of 2009. It can be a graphics card, a processor, a walkman, a flash drive, a new computer chair, a keyboard, a tv. Anything at all. I will probably opt for the Panasonic Viera NEOPDP plasma with 600hz refresh - love it.

Dec 9, 2009, 09:26 PM	#2
Bolletje HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,224 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Probably my Sitecom LN-118 switch. 5-ports 10/100 :P It was cheap and it has never failed (you expected high-end stuff, didn't you :P?) Last edited by Bolletje; Dec 9, 2009 at 09:38 PM.

Dec 10, 2009, 12:39 AM	#5
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Of what I've actually procured, it's something as simple as a standard harddrive. I was surprised that the 1TB Samsung F3 was not only as quiet as I expected, but very noticeably faster as well, starting games like Modern Warfare 50% faster than on my F1's. It also remains inexpensive while SSD's are up together with all DRAM prices. I'd by a third or fourth if only they were not currently out of stock locally and my old(and probably redundant) rule of preferably not buying harddrives around the holiday season. Edit: An honorable mention of a product that isn't exactly fresh on the market. The InWin BK623 Mountain Jade proved to be a great little HTPC case that has some smart internals and comes with a decent FSP 300W small size PSU without being expensive. It's the base for my HTPC/LAN/light gaming system that is just waiting for a HD5670 card to top it off. Last edited by mkk; Dec 10, 2009 at 01:25 PM.

Dec 10, 2009, 11:40 AM	#6
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Zune HD. It's a huge leap forward from the old hard drive based Zune's.

Dec 10, 2009, 12:57 PM	#8
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 I'd have to say the UMID M1 (which I'm sure I mentioned before). Not that I've seen one in person, but it has redefined for me how light a PC can be. At 315g it's lighter than the Psion 5mx I had (years ago), but it's a fully blown Windows device, with a 1024x600 screen resolution. The 512MB is a bit of a downer, but the M2 should fix that, as well as some other issues.

Dec 10, 2009, 01:59 PM	#9
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 From products that I bought over the last 12 months, games aside, my "vote" go to AVerTV Hybrid Volar HD H830 external (USB2) TV tuner. I have owned a few tv tuners over the years and this is by far the best. Very fast, lots of options, great at recording etc. I can't think of a single thing I would like it to be better at. It's that good. And cheap! AVerMedia AVerTV Global - AVerTV TV Tuners and Multimedia Products - AVerTV Hybrid Volar HD From products I do not own, my "vote" goes to the king AMD's 5970. A behemoth of performance that nothing can stop it at "normal" resolutions. For me this is easily my favourite product of 2009. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Dec 15, 2009, 01:57 AM	#11
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Is this for products released in '09 or for products I purchased in '09 but came out earlier? If for something I purchased that was released a few years ago definitely my Herman Miller Aeron chair. Computing has never been more comfortable. I can easily sit in a chair 8 hours+ and not get soar. If it was something released in 2009. My vote would go for the HD 5870's. I still down own one but it is a very impressive product. __________________

Dec 15, 2009, 02:33 AM	#12
press HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 163 Rep Power: 38 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 this Attached Thumbnails

Dec 15, 2009, 04:35 AM	#13
RobertBruce HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 259 Rep Power: 46 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 JUST finally got a SONY KDL-40V5100. Saving up for a neflix enabled blu-ray player next.

Dec 15, 2009, 02:29 PM	#15
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 I am sorry, but (half joking) aren't most of the HTPC cases nothing than the old desktop cases paint in black? __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Dec 15, 2009, 03:47 PM	#17
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 my new HDD WD 1TB Black Caviar. Much space to roam

Dec 21, 2009, 01:19 AM	#19
isaak HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,286 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Even though I don't own one, I'm gonna go with the 5870 __________________ The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

Dec 25, 2009, 09:39 AM	#20
adamosmaki http://pcvideogaming.blog Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cyprus Posts: 61 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 Although not a 2009 product but o bought it this year is my nokia n82. Amazing camera phone and aside the small screen has a great set of features

Jan 9, 2010, 03:27 PM	#21
~~RE III - Frankie~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,754 Rep Power: 0	Re: what has been your favourite product of 2009 GTS250 even though I got this year, it was introduced last. I still love it though! Yeah EVGA!!