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PC Magazine lists Microsoft Windows and the Sony PlayStation 3 as some of the most overrated of all time -- and we disagree

According to PS3Fanboy, the February 6 edition of PC Magazine lists what it believes to be the top ten “Most Overrated Products of All Time!” While the list is just one publication’s opinion, it’s interesting to see what other fellow industry professionals think of the various pieces of technology that we’ve all experienced at one point or another. The top ten most overrated, according to PC Magazine, are:

  1. Any version of MS Windows after Windows 95
  2. :CueCat
  3. Lotus 1-2-3
  4. AOL
  5. Apple iPod shuffle
  6. Microsoft Bob
  7. Google Video
  8. Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones
  9. Microsoft PowerPoint
  10. Sony PlayStation 3

It’s pretty safe to say that this list is open to debate. A lot of the Sony faithful are quite critical of all outlets, including the one before your very eyes, of reporting any sort of news that may reflect negatively on their console company of choice, and this top ten list certainly doesn’t do anything to help. Unlike news of something legitimate and true, like the lack of a hardware upscaler or backwards compatibility problems, to call the PlayStation 3 overrated is rash.

The PlayStation 3 is undeniably overhyped, but it’s too soon to tell whether or not it’s overrated. Sony puts it HypeStation into overdrive the previous time it launched a new console. The hype surrounding the PS2 was so huge that it was widely reported that Sony’s then-new console was banned from export for fear that the system’s CPU could be used for military purposes. Did Sony deliver on the PS2 hype? No, but it did deliver a successful gaming system that lead its generation – which is all it was meant to do anyway. Things aren’t too different this time around for PS3, except its competition is a bit wiser.

As for the top spot on that hype list, I’m not a huge OS zealot, but I will say that every new version of Windows eventually ends up topping the previous one. Windows 95 was also another highly hyped product, though the advances it brought over 3.11 are quite considerable. To call some versions of overrated may not be entirely inaccurate, as Windows 98 and especially Windows ME did very little to change the world in ways that Microsoft advertised them. Windows XP, however, did wonders by finally bringing a full 32-bit operating system (and along with it stability) to the masses and not just the server and workstation market. It’s too early to tell if Windows Vista will have as big of an effect that Microsoft wants you to believe – it could end up being another minor refresh (but gamers will have to have it anyway for DX10).

Microsoft Bob? Yeah, overrated but Microsoft knew and axed it.

I never knew that Microsoft PowerPoint was rated so highly, so I’m unsure as to why it’s overrated. If anything, I’d say that PowerPoint is overused, especially in classrooms today. Professors and teachers love to rely on PowerPoint slides to deliver instruction, though it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as I’d take a PowerPoint slide (without cheesy transitions) over chicken-scratch chalk/whiteboards and overheads any day. I particularly appreciate the educational institution’s use of PowerPoint when the .ppt file is made available to students, thus freeing my in-class time from note-taking to other more important tasks, such as assignments due later in the day.

If Google Video is overrated, then what about YouTube?

Finally, and I’m probably alone one this one, but I think that all iPods are overrated. They’re the nicest MP3 players on the market, and every new version that comes out is incrementally better, but I’d have to say that they’re more overpriced than overrated. No other iPod was as overrated as the original iPod Shuffle though. Remember one of the slogans from the advertising campaign? “Life is random.” Oh please, there’s no hipness in an MP3 player with no display. The new Shuffle is just as guilty as the old one, but at least it’s now exceptionally wearable, making its lameness somewhat forgivable.

There are a few more things on that list, but I’m not familiar with them so I can’t comment on them. Reading through lists such as this one allows one to reflect back on certain technologies over the years to see which ones truly delivered and which ones didn’t. Aside from that single purpose, overrated lists are overrated.

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Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By masher2 (blog) on 1/22/2007 9:54:09 AM , Rating: 3
The product spawned an entire industry, and, more so than any other software package except possibly dBase, drove early sales of personal computers. You're using a cheap computer now due to the volume created from analysts buying machines 20+ years ago to run their spreadsheets.

I won't even go into the rest of the list, but it certainly reinforces my opinion of PC Magazine.




RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By gramboh on 1/22/2007 12:16:12 PM , Rating: 2
Fully agree, how is 1-2-3 overrated? It changed how analysis was performed in business globally in the 80's! This is absolutely insane to have it on here, what a useless list.

And I agree Bose is awful ovepriced crap, but some random pair of headphones is not one of the top #10 items ever.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By dubldwn on 1/22/2007 3:26:27 PM , Rating: 2
I have the Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones, and they were very expensive for what they are. However, they are by far the best headphones I have ever used. They're awesome for gaming and music, and once I wore them on an airplane, I will never fly without them again.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By gramboh on 1/22/2007 5:46:44 PM , Rating: 2
Haven't tried them myself, but I'll bet Sennheiser has something with better technical specs and user listening experience for the same price.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By kamel5547 on 1/22/2007 7:23:24 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed... In fact I would say the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro are at least as good...

Bose doesn't compete when it comes to audio, but the hype around their products is much more than that surrounding superior equipment... I have no arguments with this one.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By jtesoro on 1/24/2007 3:20:37 AM , Rating: 2
The Bose QuietComfort 2 has noise cancellation, so I don't think a direct comparison to the Sennheiser is warranted.

I haven't used the Bose headphones, but I was able to try out a Creative model at CES and it seemed to be OK in canceling out ambient sounds. I was able to try out a similar product from Sharper Image in one of their retail stores, and I didn't notice the difference with the feature off or on.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By dubldwn on 1/23/2007 1:16:59 PM , Rating: 2
Well, the framework that I'm putting around this is we have the countless products "of all time", so to be in the top 10, that would mean that the product was hyped to an exceptional degree, and then it sucked. These Bose headphones might meet the first requirement, but not the latter. I could agree with those tiny speaker systems Bose offers. No mid range. But the headphones? Nah.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By gramboh on 1/22/2007 5:46:45 PM , Rating: 2
Haven't tried them myself, but I'll bet Sennheiser has something with better technical specs and user listening experience for the same price.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By InsaneGain on 1/23/2007 1:20:43 PM , Rating: 2
For work purposes, I have tried the Bose QC2's for a few days and there is no doubt they are very high quality headphones. I have tried Sennheisers and Sony's, and the Bose stood out as having a high quality design and construction, and very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They passively seal out ambient noise very well without using excessive clamping pressure. I know for a fact that they are expensive to manufacture, due to discussing the topic with someone at the manufacturer in China, but I think the price is a bit excessive. So are BMW's and Rolex watches though.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By dOOMYLEIN on 1/23/2007 7:50:27 PM , Rating: 2
Bose expensive to manufacture?!?! Have you ever been in a Bose store? With very few exceptions, most of their products are disturbingly cheap done. The CD/DVD trays seem like inspired by Daytek/Futachi designs and manufacturing. For the price they're asking for their products there's no excuse for how cheap their products are manufactured.
I used these QuietComfort headphones on AmericanAirlines flights and, if the ones you get on board are the same as the ones you can buy in the stores then it's sad. They may be ok for noise canceling but for music reproduction they are just awful. And that's compared to my pretty cheap Sony in-ear earphones that I always have with me.
Absolutely no comparison with Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser headphones from all points of view.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By InsaneGain on 1/24/2007 3:30:49 PM , Rating: 2
Funny how people think they are experts when they don't have a clue. Yes, the Bose QC2 headphones are relatively expensive to manufacture. We cost analyzed every component. It is a quality headphone. The noise canceling circuit is expensive compared to typical analog feedback systems, according to the contact I spoke with at the manufacturer, as we were deciding on what to use for our noise canceling circuit. As for American Airlines, yes they used the QC2. However, did it ever cross your mind that the sound system used to feed the headphones may not be what you are used to at home? They have to power hundreds of headphones, so the amplification system is very different. The QC2's that I tested sounded fine, and I have tried many different brands. I am not an "audiophile" and I'm not going to get into a nitpicky discourse about subtle sound differences that almost nobody can subjectively detect.


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By dOOMYLEIN on 1/24/2007 10:44:21 PM , Rating: 2
Funny how fast you decided I'm an expert without a clue:) I just shared my appalled thoughts about how cheaply made most of the Bose products displayed in their stores are. Follow my advice and press the eject button to any of their displayed CD/DVD units and then watch the tray of cheapness open; Walmart's 19$ DVD players are more sturdy than the 3-2-1-Yupeee DVD unit.
Also funny how you changed your tone about the expensiveness of these Bose things; at least that's what "relatively expensive to manufacture" transmits to the reader. Of course 3$ more for the components Bose is using in their 300$ headphones will make their headphones more ("relatively") expensive to produce than the 50$ Jensen or Phillips noise canceling ones. Anyway, AFAIK noise canceling headphones are just a simple phase-inverting amplifier that I highly doubt is expensive to make.
As for the the source used to power the headphones, my dear, I always skipped AA's offering and used my humble Ipod for music and PSP for movies. Sometimes I also had a Porta Corda amplifier with me and the results are the same. The QC2 headphones on AA flights do reduce the ambient noise but music sounds just doesn't sound good on them; no lows, too much bass. Regards, Not-An-Audiophile:)


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By InsaneGain on 1/25/2007 2:51:10 PM , Rating: 2
OK, first of all, I don't know or care about the rest of the Bose product line. I was only referring to the Bose QC2 headphones.
Yes, "relative" because as far as headphone manufacturing goes, they are relatively expensive to produce. The mold costs also would have been very high, as there are many components. Anyway, I originally stated that I personally think the retail price is very high, but so are many products marketed at the high end consumer. About the NC circuit: Obviously you have very impressive Google searching skills. According to the engineer I was communicating with, the type of noise canceling circuit used in the QC2 is different than a typical analog feedback circuit. One thing I noticed was that there was a very high signal to noise ratio generated by the circuit. You almost couldn't discern any background hiss. No question, I wouldn't have minded keeping the set I tried out. I'm not going to spend $300 though. I don't need portable music that badly and I don't travel by air often enough.
As for American Airlines sound system, well I would think the QC2 headphones will have an impedance load tailored to the commercial grade system amplifier, which will be at least 10-30 times higher than your Sony earbuds. The impedance will be much too high for the output of your iPod, even your Porta Corda amplifier, so the sound will definitely be affected. So you spend $230 on a headphone amplifier to drive your cheap earbuds and you think the Bose QC2's are overpriced??? How much do you think the Porta Corda cost to manufacture? Also, how can you have no lows at the same time as having too much bass??


RE: Lotus 1-2-3 overrated?
By dOOMYLEIN on 1/25/2007 10:53:36 PM , Rating: 2
Ok, QC2 only. This "relatively expensive" to produce affirmation is very... relative:) Many plastic components like you say translates to cheaper piece and manufacturing price. And the result is the reason for my small 'crusade' against these Bose products: cheap products with high prices to give'em the aura of high-end gear. It's a strategy that seems to be working very good for them but it's just evil:)
Background hiss - depends on the source, the headphones itself does not amplify the signal. Or are you talking about the circuit only? In which case it's no big deal either as the amplification that it produces does not have to be big; it's only used to cancel the surrounding noise that the cheap microphone captures.
It is possible that the AA QC2 headphones to have a different impedance; did not though about it. In which case it will affect the power (volume) of the headphones but not the SQ.
The Porta Corda was 130$ on eBay and I bought it to use with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880 headphones. Only when I have snobbish accents I take it with me and the Sony earbuds:) And also when I'm flying non AA flights and need it to raise the volume a lot and transform the earbuds into noise-canceling devices:)
The "no lows, too much bass" is my mistake; I wanted to say no highs, too much bass.
I got tired of writing here plus nobody reads us so if you want to fight in peace mail @ dooomy at gmail dot com. Böse power!


I agree as well...
By Aikouka on 1/22/2007 8:43:33 AM , Rating: 3
This list seems to be nothing more than things the author doesn't like. Overrated means that something isn't as good as its made out to be and frankly, the list seems a bit... wrong if you look at it that way.

1) Windows... sure there were some downsides (Windows ME), but overall it's not that bad of an OS. Once I saw this listed as the top, I knew the entire list would be pure horse-hockey.

2) Ehh CueCat was pretty useless, because it really didn't do much more than you could do yourself. This product was FREE though and all you had to do was walk into RadioShack and ask for one. For anyone who's never seen it, it's an IR scan device shaped like a cat. You scan a bar code for a product and it takes you to the website (if it's in the database). I think I still have one or two at home somewhere.

3) Lotus 1-2-3... wasn't really overrated as much as Microsoft Office simply beat it out in the office productivity war.

4) AOL... I may dislike AOL, but it saves me from having to help a technologically illiterate friend set up their Internet ;).

5) iPod Shuffle... I'd say that I agree with Marcus on this one. I've never been a fan of screenless MP3 players and I don't see why this popular other than the fact that it plugs directly into your PC (i.e. no trying to find an adapter, which is nice).

6) the Bob... after looking at the Wiki page for this... I wanna try this software! It's even interesting to see that the dog character from this ended up being ported into Windows XP's search.

7) Google Video... call me crazy, but I like Google Video. Unless the content is purchaseable, they let you download it easily with a link. Sure, they try to push their own proprietary format, but I always just change my settings so it sees me as a Linux machine and provides an AVI instead. Or you can just use Keepvid but you can use that with YouTube just as well.

8) Bose *... overpriced junk... the whole list could be filled with horrid Bose products.

9) PowerPoint... I don't see how PowerPoint is overrated? It does exactly what it's designed to do. Now, I think PP is sometimes overused, especially in the classroom, as Marcus mentioned. However, some of my professors gave out the powerpoint slides so you could make notes on it if need be. It was also a great reference rather than worrying about paging through the book to find the key points.

10) PS3... eh I think it's a bit overhyped, but not necessarily overrated. I think after awhile, the PS3 will finally see some decent games and that'll somewhat adjust the opinions of some.




RE: I agree as well...
By ksherman on 1/22/2007 9:14:09 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, most of the stuff on this list I am not very familiar with...

I too have not been indoctrinated into the anti-MS sentiment. While I do not find their OS to be super amazing or inspiring (ala OS-X or various flavors of Linux), it is still a decent OS, especially XP.

When I saw PowerPoint on the list, I cracked up. I just dont get what makes PP overrated. perhaps it is over used, and in the wrong hands powerpoint presentations can look pretty rawnchy. Not sure if any of you have used Office 2007, but the new powerpoint is MUCH improved, much like the rest of the suite


Revised list
By ninjit on 1/22/2007 3:36:48 PM , Rating: 3
1. The February 6th issue of PC Magazine solely because of the stupidity of this list.
2. ...
3.





RE: Revised list
By Ringold on 1/22/2007 6:09:53 PM , Rating: 2
A little disappointed.. with CES and all, what the hell, a slow news week for them or something? Last minute fluff because a reporter couldn't get something in on time?

Oh well..


Bose Overrated?
By elmikethemike on 1/22/2007 10:48:50 PM , Rating: 1
It's funny reading all the "reviews" of the QC2 headphones by users here. It's clear you've never used them because if you did, you wouldn't be making these lame comments. Waaah waaah waaah theyre expensive....get a better paying job. Theyre hands down the best headphones and well worth the pricetag. If youre gonna make comments, try and get some practical experience with the item at hand cuz your "Seenssiheimer" crap headphones arent even close. Get real.




RE: Bose Overrated?
By mm2587 on 1/23/2007 2:38:59 AM , Rating: 2
lol, do a little google searching on bose and their "high quality" audio products. Its not that their bad headphones its just other companys who unfortunatly have less name recognition offer better products at much more competative prices.


RE: Bose Overrated?
By MikeO on 1/23/2007 9:13:19 AM , Rating: 2
First you tell people to "get some practical experience" and then proceed to call Sennheiser crap. Now that's funny.


My Thoughts:
By Spivonious on 1/22/2007 1:08:33 PM , Rating: 4
1. Any version of MS Windows after Windows 95
98SE was the best of the 9x series and XP blows them all away.
2. :CueCat
I never heard of this, but in reading about it, it seems pretty stupid. So I'll agree on this one.
3. Lotus 1-2-3
As stated in another post, this software provided home PC users with a reason to buy a PC in a time when not many were thinking of buying PCs.
4. AOL
Today, yes. When it came out? Definitely no. It is responsible for making the Internet a home application. Previously the Net was all tech-related information and newsgroups. AOL made it commercial, which resulted in the dot net explosion in the 90s.
5. Apple iPod shuffle
I might be alone on this one, but a small, cheap MP3 player that auto shuffles is just what I would use. No time wasted learning interfaces; just transfer your songs and go. It was a risky move on Apple's part and it paid off.
6. Microsoft Bob
I remember when this was talked about way back when. Great idea, bad timing. I think if it came out now, people would flock to it. Similar to the Wii Remote, MS Bob takes away the one obstruction of using a computer: the interface.
7. Google Video
This is definitely not overrated. Everyone rates YouTube higher, which is how it should be. Who ever said that Google Video was great?
8. Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones
100% agree on this one. While Bose things manage to sound fairly good, the prices are so exceptionally high that it makes me turn away in disgust whenever I see a Bose display in a store.
9. Microsoft PowerPoint
I literally laughed out loud when I read this one. PowerPoint is the best presentation software, Period.
10. Sony PlayStation 3
Definitely true now, but could be reversed if any games ever come out for it and/or BlueRay support picks up.




um?
By 8steve8 on 1/23/2007 9:06:13 AM , Rating: 2
for a product to be overrated, it needs to be rated highly... but undeservingly..

none of the products listed are rated high..

all of them are rated low..




playstation3 is constantly bashed in the mass media... and forums and everywhere... how is it overrated?... probably underated if anything.

how much props does ms bob get these days?
how much props does cuecat get?
ipod shuffle?



if anything ipod shuffle is underated.. as it never gets any positive attention..always viewed as the cheapskate ipod.


worst list ever.







RE: um?
By 8steve8 on 1/23/2007 9:16:09 AM , Rating: 2
in fact last year the wall street journal called the shuffle a threat to the brand and said it was viewed as a poser ipod and was diluting the high end image of the ipod brand...

does that sound like an overrated product?


I agree
By Trisped on 1/22/2007 8:32:20 PM , Rating: 3
I found each version of Windows better then the last one I ran, though I only used 95, 98SE, and XP Pro since the 3.x days. They all had elements that made them much better then the system I had been using.

I also agree on the iPod statements. All iPods are overrated (and over priced). Though that is really easy to be when I can say "iPod" instead of "MP3 player" and everyone can still follow what I am saying.

I find most magazines put things that are less then credible in their pages, mostly because then need something sensational to grab readers, and that is hard to do when it takes 4-6 months to get new content to readers.




I tend to agree...
By Hyperlite on 1/22/2007 7:26:28 AM , Rating: 2
I must agree on your points regarding the OS's and the PS3. On the whole, i find it irrational to blatantly hate microsoft. I use their products, and 9/10 times its an enjoyable experience. Indeed, XP was a major step forward, and while vista may not present such a jump as XP, its the next step in the evolution. As for the PS3...while I'm flabbergasted at the audacity Sony is showing in some areas, i do like a few of the things the PS3 is doing, flexibility with HDD sizes and expandability for example. It is indeed to soon to call.

That said, it has been my experience that "Overrated Lists" are nothing but flame bait.




I thought XP was pretty good.
By nurbsenvi on 1/22/2007 12:58:22 PM , Rating: 2
95 and 98 really sucked I still hate it.
but XP... maybe the predecessors were so bad that it makes XP look good but I really liked XP.




By EODetroit on 1/23/2007 1:46:29 PM , Rating: 2
The author of that PC Magazine article doesn't even know what "overrated" means. And no I'm not visiting their web site or buying their magazine, I'd rather waste my time watching Walker Texas Ranger, and that show sucked.




You want to know what is overrated?
By EglsFly on 1/23/2007 11:36:51 PM , Rating: 2
How about PC Magazine itself as being the most overrated today?

I would think that anybody that is moderately tech savy would be getting the scoop on the latest information off the Internet these days and not from PC Magazine!!! LOL




They missed RD600
By Marlowe on 1/24/2007 9:35:30 AM , Rating: 2
They should have put DFI's RD600 mobo on that list ^^

It has been hyped for over half a year, and now it turns out that it really sucks :)




fully agree with Yam
By slickr on 1/24/2007 3:46:10 AM , Rating: 1
as he said. I would just like to add that he forgot windows 2000 which was total garbage, on the other hand windows XP turned out to be the best OS i've ever used and i've used them all.
from the first OS don't even know the name it was back in 1993 or 94 to win95 to win98 to winME to win2000 to winXP and mauby in a few months win Vista.

About the Ipods, totally agree that they are very very overrated and overpriced and over-huped and everything bad.
anyways the whole top 10 worst of all times products seems very unprofesional and very random so i wouldent even take it even as a article!




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