Apple MacBook
$1,300

Thinness does not trump practicality

Apple may have taken its obsession with thinness a step too far, making the trade-offs for the MacBook's 2 pounds and half-inch thickness impractical and uncomfortable.

First, the good: It feels sturdy even though it's featherweight, it has a full-sized keyboard and a good-sized high-resolution screen. Apple also packed a battery that lasts through 10 hours of active use into that tight space.

But these advantages are outweighed by an ergonomics challenge of typing on such a flat keyboard that doesn't take heavy handedness and the fact that it only has one USB-C port and one headphone jack. The USB-C port also doubles as the place where you plug in your power adapter, so you have to choose between charging or using an accessory or memory stick.

Apple's wish that owners just rely on wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi instead of physical plugs simply ignores reality. Now you're almost certainly going to have to carry around a handful of adapters.

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Galaxy S6 Edge
$814.99

It looks cool, but lacks some features

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is a paradox. While Samsung has produced a great phone and included some nice upgrades, it left out some of the Galaxy's best features and hiked the price.

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S phone design always felt a bit cheap. The plastic back of the Galaxy S5 has been replaced with Corning Gorilla Glass on the S6 models. The S6 Edge has a rounded glass screen on the vertical edges, which has a bit of extra functionality and a ton more visual appeal. It has better pixels per inch than the iPhone 6. The camera can shoot 4K video. The battery is good for up to 26 hours of talk or 13 hours of video playback. The phones feature built-in wireless charging and a fast-charge feature.

But in changing the design, Samsung has removed some of the core features that made the Galaxy S unique. Using glass for the back cover meant the end of the replaceable battery. Also gone is the microSD card slot for memory expansion. Those two features have been hallmarks of the Galaxy S. It's also not waterproof.

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