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World Class: Best of 2003

The gear of the year: your complete guide to 50+ hardware, software, and service winners--including today's number one product.

By PC World Editors   

Complete Coverage

Sound and Video

Digital Audio Player

Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen ($300)

Is that your entire CD collection in your pocket, or ... well, never mind. With enough space to hold 5000 songs, Creative's $300 Nomad Zen 20GB really can store an entire CD collection. And for hard-core music fans, that's a life-changing event.

Of course, hard disk-based MP3 players are nothing new, and competitors such as Apple's IPod made choosing a winner in this category tough. The Nomad Zen gets the nod for its attractive combination of good design and superior value. Both USB 2.0 and FireWire versions are available in a brushed aluminum case with an easy-to-read LCD screen. Though the Nomad is slightly bigger than its different-thinking competition, it is particularly adept at on-the-go music programming: You can use a simple dial and menu interface to add artists, albums, individual tracks, and playlists to the Zen's Now Playing list on the fly. The player recharges quickly, and with up to 8 hours of playing time on a full charge, it won't run out of juice on a long trip. Bottom line: The smaller, sleeker IPod may look great; but at the same price, the Nomad Zen gives you twice the storage capacity.

LCD Monitor

Samsung SyncMaster 172T ($680)

Consider the $680, 17-inch Samsung 172T the yoga practitioner of LCD monitors: It's slim, elegant, and capable of performing backbends. Just over an inch thick, our flat-panel pick perches on a dual-hinged stand that lets you vary both screen height and degree of tilt. The sleek, silver LCD won't cramp your style or your desk space--and you can even fold it flat and wall-mount it, allowing the 172T to transcend the desk entirely. Combine its adaptability with its lightness (at 10.3 pounds, it's one of the lightest 17-inch monitors we've tested), and this flat-panel can become quite the traveler. Though you might not notice the ultrathin 172T if you look at it from the side, there's no such risk when viewing the display head-on. The 17-inch viewable area produces bright colors, natural flesh tones, and crisp black text with equal aplomb. The included installation guide and around-the-clock toll-free assistance will help you work out any kinks you encounter.

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