Adrienne Maxwell

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Projector Reviews
Optoma H27 DLP Projector
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 15, 2005  |  Published: Oct 30, 2005
Value, and then some.

Let's talk value. Super-sizing may no longer be en vogue in the fast-food realm, but it's alive and well in the world of home theater. If you're trying to put together a dedicated theater on a budget, remember this simple formula: More screen size for less money means greater value.

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Other Tech
Shopping for a Digital Video Recorder
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 29, 2005
Storage and tuners and menus, oh my!

You've heard that a digital video recorder (DVR) will change the way you watch TV, and you know you want one. Beyond that, you're at a loss. How do you choose between the different models? How do you even know what to look for? Here are some questions to help guide you on your way to time-shifting bliss.

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Speaker Buying Tips
How to Shop for a Surround Sound Speaker System
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 29, 2005
Audio myth #1: You have to be a hardcore audiophile to hear and appreciate the way a good speaker system can complete your home entertainment experience.
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LCD TV Reviews
Philips 32PF9996 LCD HD Monitor
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 22, 2005
It dares to be different.

In the crowded world of flat panels, a manufacturer that can make their product distinctive certainly has a leg up on the competition. Philips clearly understands this, equipping their line of LCD and plasma displays with some unique features that help these displays stand out from the pack. Of course, when you veer away from the tried-and-true approach, you also risk alienating some consumers.

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The Jacket—Warner Brothers
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 18, 2005
Video: 3
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
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LCD TV Reviews
NuVision NVX32HDU LCD HD Monitor
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Sep 30, 2005
Out with the old, in with the Nu.

This is an interesting time for display manufacturers. On the one hand, the HD and flat-panel revolutions have energized the market. People are truly excited to buy TVs again. On the other hand, competition is fierce. It seems like a new TV manufacturer pops up every day to capitalize on the flat-panel frenzy.

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Desktop Speaker ReviewsPortable Player Reviews
The Sky's the Limit
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Oct 28, 2005  |  Published: Jul 28, 2005
At home, in the car, or on the go, there's a satellite radio product for you.

I learned two important things at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. One, you can slap an LED into just about anything and market it as a consumer electronics product. Two, satellite radio has hit full stride. Both XM and Sirius reported huge increases in the number of subscribers during 2004: XM added 1.8 million subscribers last year, for a total of 3.2 million—with more than 50,000 people signing up on Christmas Day alone. Sirius, meanwhile, grew from around 300,000 to 1.14 million subscribers. If you're starting to feel like you might be missing something, guess what. You are. If you're ready to do something about it, read on.

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Scrubs: The Complete First Season—Buena Vista
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jul 26, 2005
Video: 3
Audio: 3
Extras: 4
Usually, shows that take place in a hospital fall into the hour-long drama category, with a few comedic moments thrown in to dilute the sad stuff. Scrubs has achieved something we haven't seen since M.A.S.H.—it's a hospital-based sitcom that is truly funny, with a few sad moments thrown in to dilute the happy stuff. OK, M.A.S.H. also dealt with war and managed to be funny, so it wins. But Scrubs' excellent melding of bizarre slapstick, wonderfully flawed but lovable characters, and genuine sentiment has made it one of the best sitcoms on TV right now.
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AV Receiver ReviewsBookshelf Speaker Reviews
Atlantic Technology System 920 Speaker System and Onkyo TX-SR503 A/V Receiver
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jul 20, 2005
Thinking outside the box.

Who says you have to sacrifice performance to create a small, affordable speaker system? Not Atlantic Technology. With the new $899–$999 System 920, they set out to prove that we can and should expect more than we're currently getting from most tiny sub/sat and HTIB speakers. I put their claim to the test for this Spotlight review by mating the speakers with Onkyo's brand-new $300 TX-SR503 A/V receiver. Add an inexpensive universal disc player to this combo, and you've got a complete home theater system for about $1,400.

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Swimming Upstream—MGM/UA
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 11, 2006  |  Published: Jul 11, 2005
Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 2
Swimming Upstream tells the true story of Australian swimmer Tony Fingleton, who must overcome poverty and a cruel, alcoholic father in his quest to become the best swimmer in Australia. The story is one we've seen many times in different incarnations. The difference here is that, because Fingleton penned the screenplay and the book on which it's based, events aren't always as tidy and pat as Hollywood would like them to be. We don't get the big ending we're expecting, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
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