Shopping for gadgets can be challenging

Almost everyone will have at least one technology gift on his or her holiday shopping list this season. Technology gifts used to be known as “gifts for geeks” but not so much anymore as more American households have computers than ever before. However, shopping for the latest computer systems and other technological gadgets can prove challenging. The Internet is a great source of information. Shoppers can compare prices and look at product specifications from many companies before visiting a local store or ordering online. When in doubt, ask a friend or co-worker. Technology gifts are often high-priced, so the best plan is to know as much as possible about a product before making the purchase. Some hot items on the market this year, include: High-definition televisions (HDTV) With more support from cable and satellite television providers, a high-definition television would be a nice family gift. However, it’s important to know that purchasing a HDTV is not as simple as buying a “normal television.” The best advice is to check with your cable or satellite provider before running out and getting one. There is a gigantic HDTV information section packed with guides, reviews and more at www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5102926-1.html. Computer Systems Each year computers get bigger and better than ever before and more complicated to buy. One of the biggest things to consider is the purpose for which the computer will be used. Someone who wants a computer for word processing and e-mail won’t need a machine as sophisticated or expensive as someone who will use the machine for processing graphics or music or someone wanting to run the latest online video games. On today’s market, a middle range computer would have a processor speed of between 2 GHz and 3 GHz. Memory is very important. The more the better is usually the case. 512 MB is the standard minimum on most new computers; however, twice that at 1 GB is much better. Reviews on the Internet say the new Microsoft Windows Vista, currently in beta and scheduled for release in the fall of 2007, works best with a minimum of 1GB of memory. Video cards are the next critical part of a computer. Most pre-built systems have an integrated video card that works best for basic computer needs, such as e-mail, word processing and Web surfing and maybe even basic games. Graphically intense applications or 3D gaming will run and look better with higher end video cards. Memory is important here, too. Make 256 MB a minimum for any video card purchase. Sound cards are included on most pre-built systems and will work fine for most users. If advanced sound quality is needed, there are various manufacturers with sound expansion cards available. Think of it as a home stereo system: The better the sound card and speakers are, the better the sound quality. Monitors are the next consideration. Most new systems come with a flat panel monitor, which takes up less space on the desk, uses less electricity and produces less heat. The price for a flat panel monitor has dropped to a reasonable price range between $200 and $300 for a 17-inch model. Each flat panel manufacturer has a slightly different warranty. The most common problem with a flat panel monitor is the appearance of dead pixels, which may be noticeable depending on the use of the computer. Computer upgrades Holiday shopping lists could include computer upgrades, such as memory, hard drive and video card. Processors come in last on the upgrade scale, simply because most of the time a new motherboard opens up other hardware upgrades. Shopping for computer upgrades may be more challenging than buying a complete new system because it’s important to make sure the upgrade is compatible with the machine. Before purchasing computer upgrades, read the machine’s manual for system requirements. For example, video cards have a new slot type PCI Express versus the older AGP style cards. If the manual doesn’t state that the machine can use a PCI-E card, then most likely, the upgrade will have to be a AGP card, which opens up a can of worms because who wants to buy something that’s not the latest for an upgrade. Memory also comes in a variety of flavors. It’s not enough to know you want more. Check the manual, research online, ask a friend or call the computer’s manufacturer for help. Computer hard drives are another area where it’s not enough to know you want something bigger and faster. One of the latest styles on the market is the SATA style, which are faster; however, not all machines can handle them. Again, read the manual, do the homework or ask somebody for help before making the purchase. Sound card upgrades can improve the quality of music played on older systems, however, new speakers may be a more simple solution. Unless sound quality is important, spend the money on memory, video or a better monitor. One more important consideration is packaging for shipping or placing under the tree. Most computer upgrade parts are fragile, so package securely – don’t let the kids shake the box or the dog chew on them. Stocking stuffers A USB flash drive makes a great stocking stuffer for workaholics who use multiple computers, music listeners for that personalized MP3 collection and various other uses. The new MP3 players have started to include more features like video, a radio tuner and more. A replacement mouse or multifunction keyboard might not fit in the stocking, but they would still make a nice gift. The Joby Gorillapod, www.joby.com, looks interesting, or the ThinkGeek binary blanket, www.thinkgeek.com. Check out more interesting stocking stuffers at reviews.cnet.com/4520-12828_7-6656954-1.html Gift cards When in doubt, try a gift card. At current online prices, $125 should get 1 GB of generic computer memory for most systems, and a really good video card runs around $250. Nice flat panel monitors can be purchased for around $300. Again, research prices on the Internet or ask a friend. With a little homework, anybody can be a technology-savvy shopper.