Another year has nearly come to a close, and once again, the seasoned journalists of PCMag reflect on various technologies (Tech) worth investing in, as well as those we should avoid wasting money on.
Wireless Technology
Do not buy 802.11b: Investing in yesterday’s wireless standard may save you some initial costs, but this standard will struggle to meet the high-speed wireless entertainment demands expected in 2006.
You may consider buying 802.11g: The “g” indicates that the 802.11g wireless standard offers faster speeds compared to 802.11b. The “dual-g” standard can handle video streaming throughout your home, but it is gradually being replaced by the “n” standard.
Should buy 802.11 pre-n: Why should we consider the “pre-n” standard? Look at what happened with 802.11g. First, the network system remains secure when using “pre” standards. Many users adopted “pre-g” (or 54G) before 802.11g was officially approved, and all devices operated well with this standard, often requiring only driver updates. This could be a strong reason to recommend buying “pre-n” standards.
Monitors
Do not buy CRT monitors: CRT monitors are bulky and take up significant space. While they are inexpensive, the shipping costs for purchasing them online may deter you from buying.
You may consider large CRT monitors combined with HDTVs: While the best technologies can be found out there, if you want a large, high-definition screen under $1,000, this type of monitor is the last option.
Should buy LCD TVs or plasma screens: These monitors are sleek, visually appealing, and their prices are rapidly decreasing to meet user demands. Generally, these monitors fall within your investment capability and are suitable for both office and home use.
Storage Devices
Do not buy 3.5-inch floppy drives: We won’t discuss how cheap this storage device is, but we can assure you that floppy drives have become obsolete and are fading into obscurity. The last thing you should do is ensure that none of your data is stored on floppy disks. If it is, transfer it to other storage devices.
You may consider CD-R CD-ROM drives: Recordable CDs have become very affordable, with storage capacities of about 700MB and are quite durable. The only issue is that DVD drives with massive storage capacities are gradually dominating the market, and you may find yourself switching to these DVD drives and discarding CD-Rs.
Should buy small flash drives: In our opinion, this is the most favorable invention in the last decade. Flash drives have transformed data into “portable data,” allowing us to move data easily and quickly. While floppy disks also have similar portability, their storage capacity cannot match that of flash drives. Nowadays, there are flash drives with capacities of several GB, which are compact and user-friendly.
Systems
Do not buy cheap PCs: Budget PCs may save you on initial investment but can often lead to numerous headaches. These systems frequently lack essential components like dedicated graphics cards or CD-R/DVD-ROM drives; you might only get one or the other. Additionally, storage capacity and monitors are usually very limited. The same goes for CPUs, as these systems often use low-cost CPUs lacking many vital features. Ultimately, such systems typically underperform your expectations, mainly serving basic tasks like internet browsing, instant messaging, or simple office work.
You may consider budget laptops: These laptops tend to share similar issues as budget desktop PCs but have the advantage of being space-efficient and portable. Therefore, purchasing these systems is acceptable.
Should buy a well-equipped desktop or laptop: If you intend to buy a desktop (PC), maximize your hardware purchases: opt for large storage hard drives—at least 80GB, substantial RAM—up to 1GB, and a graphics card around 128MB, along with an LCD monitor. For laptops, choose powerful, stylish, and lightweight models with 802.11g wireless capabilities, dual-layer DVD burners, wide screens, and ample hard drive and RAM sizes to meet your work requirements.
Digital Cameras
Do not buy digital cameras under 3-megapixel: Notice that even mobile phones now come with integrated digital cameras with decent resolutions. A real digital camera must have a large lens and more features than a mobile phone’s camera, with a minimum resolution of 3 megapixels.
You may consider cameras with 4 to 5-megapixel resolutions: Cameras with this resolution have become very common on the market. Furthermore, many models now feature resolutions between 6 to 8 megapixels. You can opt for these cameras if price is a concern.
Should buy 6- to 8-megapixel SLRs: SLR digital cameras give you maximum control over your photos. Additionally, these cameras are relatively easy to use and are not significantly more expensive than other models.
MP3 Players
Do not buy flash-type MP3 players with 256MB capacity: These types of MP3 players are genuinely poor quality despite their low price—typically under $50—but their capacity is very limited, allowing for only about 50 songs or slightly more. The sound quality is certainly not guaranteed.
You may consider 1GB MP3 players: Players like the iPod are quite good for music lovers, and these devices can hold many songs along with impressive features like display screens, recording capabilities, or FM radio.
Should buy 4GB MP3 players: The iPod Nano is an excellent choice for music enthusiasts, offering outstanding features. Get yourself one to satisfy your musical tastes.
