Saving Face and Some Green With Smart Choices

As the holidays approach, we geeks often get quizzed by friends, family, and co-workers about the newest tech toys and, sometimes, just what the heck their favorite teen really wants or needs. The good news is, you don’t have to know everything about every model to make wise choices and you also don’t have to break the bank. Instead, try keeping a few rules of thumb in mind when you embark on your next shopping trip.

Know the user. This is probably the hardest part of your research, trying to figure out what the gift recipient will use the gadget for so you can match their needs with the right product. When buying a laptop, you might want to know if it is going to be used for internet and homework (economy laptops are fine), games and entertainment (might need a larger screen, good video card, or bigger hard drive), or to take to class or meetings (a smaller netbook works well). Similar questions can be asked about tablets and eReaders, as a tablet would be too much for someone who just wants to read books but is appropriate for someone who would want to read their e-mail or play games on the device as well. The easiest way to answer this question is to really just ask the person or someone who knows them well about the likely usage.

Bigger is not always better. One way to cut corners is to not overbuy if the user won’t even need the items that pack on the extra expense. For example, add a 17-inch screen to a laptop and the price jumps $100-$150. It may be nice to have the bigger screen, but it’s not needed if the user wants something portable and won’t be gaming or watching a lot of movies. Another thing that grabs dollars is megapixels on a digital camera. In a nutshell, a 5 megapixel camera is about all you will ever need, period. This has been the case for several years, as pointed out in a 2007 New York Times article. It is more important to spend the money on better lenses, zoom or memory cards. Speaking of which, unless you never delete photos from your memory card, stick with 4GB and 8GB cards; the average point and shoot camera can save about 1,000 pictures on an 8GB card. Again, you will save money (and headaches) buying a lower capacity high-end card instead of a cheap 32GB card. A final example of a way to save money is on capacity for an mp3 player or tablet. Most now come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. This particular specification relies a lot on what the user intends to do with the device. Video files require a lot of room, but if the user will only be loading apps or listening to music, the rule of thumb here is 8GB = 1,200 songs or 200 apps so 8GB is fine for the average user for an mp3 player and 16GB for a tablet.

Don’t be too frugal. The key here is to avoid buying a replacement of the same item next year. If that means spending a few dollars more now for a better quality item, do so. This is another area that is less technical and has more to do with observation. If you can get to a store and look at the models, see if they look like they will break easily or if the screen is too dim or buttons look flimsy. But also take the time to really look at the item. Pay attention to how many USB ports are included, if the touch screen is too sensitive, or if the device just weighs too much to comfortably hold.

Accessorize at your own risk. Two issues crop up around accessories, one is store tactics and the other is personal choice. Stores used to make money this time of year by reminding us to buy batteries, but now they make money on extra car chargers, cases, controllers, and the list goes on. As for personal choice, are you really sure your niece would want a nice pink case for her new iPod or does she secretly want the leopard print? If you are feeling generous, the easiest thing to do when the salesman starts their pitch is say, “I’m not sure, but would like to add a gift card.” The store makes their money and your niece can decide on the animal print with no need for you to fish out a receipt for a return. You might also want to avoid bundles if you aren’t sure the accessories included are ones that would be used.

Use reviews. While I did say you don’t have to know everything about every model, it is always a good idea to have some idea about the models available to you. Reviews are a good way to just get an overall feel for how a product does in the field, so if the tech specs match your needs, the last step (before finding the best price!) is to look at the reviews on certain models. Reviews were covered in a previous Tech Tips post, so please take a look at that post to refresh your memory.

Ask a geek. We secretly like being useful at this time of year. If your favorite geek can’t go shopping with you or look at every ad, at least ask them what to look for in a particular device. Most of the time, they are happy to rattle off minimum specifications or at least keep an eye out for a good deal. If you don’t have a geek of your own or are in a pinch, you can also turn to online gift guides. Two of the best are cnet’s annual guide, which does a nice job of breaking the product categories down, and ZDNet, which also features links to other online gift guides. Most guides also offer offbeat selections for stocking stuffers. Our current favorite is CyberClean, which looks like a kid’s art supply but does a nice job of cleaning gadgets, especially when it comes to getting cookie crumbs out of keyboards.

- Laura N.