To encourage the hi-tech manufacturers iXBT.com editorial staff decided to institute Awards of three types described below.

Reviewed by iXBT.com

The «Reviewed by iXBT.com» Award identifies products passed tests in iXBT.com labs. It's only presented to manufacturers whose solutions were reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com.

Original Design

The modern PC hardware market is filled with product clones of all types. As product lifetime became shorter, many makers prefer not to waste time and resources on their own solutions, but often follow the "reference design" changing just the product name and retail box design. Therefore iXBT.com editorial staff instituted the «Original Design» Award to be presented only to those makers that create new products different from the reference design.

This Award is only presented to originally designed products significantly different from reference design. The product must pass tests in iXBT.com labs and be reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com.

The «Original Design» Award can be presented only once per month with obligatory linking to the corresponding reviews.

"Digital Imaging" Laureates

A digital camera can be awarded the «Original Design», if:

• Its matrix and lens were developed by companies, which names are provided on camera body;
• Either matrix or lens, or both are first introduced in this camera;
• Camera's real capabilities or its potential distinguish it from the previously released products;
• It features something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

FUJIFILM FinePix F700

"Graphics cards" Laureates

A graphics card can be awarded the «Original Design», if it shows the following differences from reference design in tests:

• Original cooling system providing more performance and lower noise;
• Support of options like Video-In (naturally absent in the corresponding reference design);
• Original features not listed above.

Therefore, as you may guess, just another PCB color is not enough for this Award.

December 2003 Awards

Albatron Gigi GeForce FX 5700 Ultra

ASUS RADEON 9800 XT

MSI FX5950 Ultra-VTD256 (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra)

"Printers" Laureates

A printer can be awarded the «Original Design», if:

• It offers features unique at the moment;
• It's supplied with a comprehensive software bundle;
• Introduces something brand new in the market;
• It's an engineering masterpiece;
• It features something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

Hewlett Packard Photosmart 245

"TV tuners and multimedia graphics cards" Laureates

A TV tuner or multimedia graphics card can be awarded the «Original Design», if it features:

• An original hardware solutions improving graphics and sound quality;
• Unique hardware options indirectly related to graphics and sound;
• Original design;
• Something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

Compro VideoMate TV Gold Plus TV and FM tuner

"Hard drives" Laureates

A hard disk can be awarded the «Original Design», if:

• It has features unique at the moment (rpm, data density, etc.);
• It features original innovations essentially absent in other models;
• It features something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

Western Digital WD360GD «Raptor»

Seagate Barracuda SATA 7200.7

"Portable PC" Laureates

A portable PC (notebook) can be awarded the «Original Design», if:

• It has original design^*;
• It has non-standard size and/or features^*;
• It looks really nice
• It features something original not listed above.

^*This mustn't negatively affect its consumer goodness.

December 2003 Awards

ASUS S200N

Acer TravelMate C110

Excellent Package

It's always nice to find an additional goodie, be it an application, game, souvenir, etc., you didn't expect to find in a newly purchased package It's also nice to realize that the newly purchased product really costs the money you've just paid for it. Moreover, it's twice as nice to purchase an excellent package for some lower price.

In real life there are makers that try to save on everything even if it adds less than 10% to product's cost price. Therefore iXBT.com editorial staff instituted the «Excellent Package» Award to encourage manufacturers which offer nicely designed retail boxes with excellent number of optional goodies inside instead of just the product itself supplied only with drivers.

This Award can be presented to a product that comes in some unique and comprehensive package. The product must pass tests in iXBT.com labs and be reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com.

The «Excellent Package» Award can be presented only once per month with obligatory linking to the corresponding reviews.

"Graphics cards" Laureates

A graphics card can be awarded the «Excellent Package», if it differs from similar products by:

• An origital retail box;
• Comprehensive software bundle, including maker's proprietary utilities, etc.;
• Various bonuses like souvenirs or just useful and/or pleasant goodies;
• Something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

Sapphire Atlantis RADEON 9800XT

ASUS RADEON 9800 XT

MSI FX5950 Ultra-VTD256 (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra)

"TV tuners and multimedia graphics cards" Laureates

A TV tuner or multimedia graphics card can be awarded the «Excellent Package» if it features:

• An origital retail box;
• Maker's proprietary utilities, etc. offering unique features;
• Comprehensive software bundle;
• Various bonuses like souvenirs or just useful and/or pleasant goodies;
• Something original not listed above.

December 2003 Awards

AVerTV Studio Model 305 TV and FM tuner

Additional Information

A product may only be presented one Award of the same type.

A product may be presented several Awards of different types.

In the printed form Awards are provided by written request mailed to pr@ixbt.com