iXBT.com instituted three kinds of awards in order to encourage producers of hi-tec equipment:

Reviewed by iXBT.com

The "Reviewed by iXBT.com" sign is instituted to mark products that have been tested in the iXBT.com lab. It is only given to producers of those devices that have been reviewed either in the iXBT.com journal or on sites iXBT.com and Digit-Life.com.

Original Design

Today's computer market is rife with clones. A product's lifetime has become shorter, and most manufacturers prefer not to waste their time and resources on their own developments taking instead a so-called "reference design" and only changing the brand and the package. Thus, the "Original Design" award is meant for those manufacturers that create something new and different from the reference design.

This reward may be given to a product that has an original design, i.e. is greatly different from the reference design. The product must have been tested in the iXBT.com lab and have been reviewed either in the iXBT.com journal or on sites iXBT.com and Digit-Life.com.

"Original Design" is given not more than once a month and must have links to the reviews of the awarded products.

Awards in "Barebones/SFF PCs"

A barebone can be awarded with "Original Design" in an exceptional case when its appearance combined with functionality make the product eminent against its rivals. Such barebone can entail the creation of a whole series of successors or it can remain unique in its kind. Examples of the award-deserving innovations can be:

• a module for work in the stereo system mode without [full] computer load;
• an unusual data display with interesting and useful features;
• a minute size combined with a worthy functionality.

Of course, it is difficult to evaluate how original a barebone design is in terms of the traditional meaning of "originality", that we apply to mainboards or videocards. Each mini-computer is unique in its own way.

April 2004 awards

ASUS DiGiMatrix

Awards in "3D videocards"

A videocard can be awarded with "Original Design" if the research has revealed the following differences from the reference design:

• an original cooling system, more effective and less noisy;
• support of optional functions, such as Video-In, if the reference design does not include it;
• or something else not included into this list.

It is understood that, for example, just a different PCB colour can not be considered an innovation.

April 2004 awards

HIS Excalibur RADEON 9600XT Turbo 256MB

Awards in "Periphery. Manipulators"

A manipulator - keyboard, mouse, joystick, or any other device or a set of devices of this kind - can be awarded with "Original Design" if:

• It has a set of functions which is unique for the given moment;
• It is shipped with an outstanding set of software;
• It brings something revolutionary to the market of similar devices or is an absolutely new thing for the market;
• It has prominent ergonomics not at the expense of functionality;
• Or something else not included into this list.

April 2004 awards

Cherry CyMotion Master Solar wireless set

Awards in "Portable computers"

A portable computer (a laptop) can be awarded with "Original Design" if:

• It has an original construction*;
• It has non-standard dimensions and/or functionality*;
• It just looks good;
• Or something else not included into this list.

* the mentioned features must not worsen consumer qualities

April 2004 awards

Versiya MarcoPolo 45T

Excellent Package

It is nice to buy a product and find something else besides it in the package, be it optional equipment, software, games, souvenirs or whatever. It is pleasant to be aware that the product is worth its price, but it's much more pleasant to buy a product with a magnificent package at a low price. In real life, however, some manufacturers tend to economise on everything, even if an additional item put in the package will only raise the prime cost by less than 10 percent. Therefore, we would like to encourage manufacturers who don't sell their products in bleak boxes with nothing else but a minimal set of drivers inside, but who offer bright packages with wonderful contents. It is for them that iXBT.com editors have instituted the "Excellent Package" award.

The award may be given to a product that has a unique complete package and an original box. The product must have been tested in the iXBT.com lab and have been reviewed either in the iXBT.com journal or on sites iXBT.com and Digit-Life.com.

"Excellent Package" is given not more than once a month and must have links to the reviews of the awarded products.

Awards in "Barebones/SFF PCs"

A barebone can be awarded with "Excellent Package" for the following features:

• integrated or preinstalled extension cards, cardreaders, storages, tuners, coolers, etc.;
• necessary cables, adapters, antennas, remote controllers, etc., included into the package;
• a wide variety of software with additional functionality, service utilities, etc.;
• transportation items (a backpack, a bag) included into the package;
• or something else not included into this list.

An enlarged complete package usually increases the barebone price, therefore it is important that customers can order a less expensive light variant of the product. At the same time, the absence of cheap necessary adapters from the package can spoil the customer's impression of a beautiful and expensive model.

April 2004 awards

ASUS DiGiMatrix

Awards in "3D videocards"

A videocard can be awarded with "Excellent Package" if the research has revealed the following differences from analogical products that are available at the moment of research:

• an original box (retail-package);
• a wide variety of software, as well as utilities and other programs developed by the manufacturer;
• various bonuses, such as souvenirs or useful and/or nice trifles;
• or something else not included into this list.

Prolink PixelView GeForce FX 5700 PDF 256MB

Additional information

A product can't be given the same award twice.

A product can be given several different awards.

A poligraphic variant of the award can be provided upon a written e-mail request sent to: pr@ixbt.com