Friday, December 01, 2006 01:00 AM PST
If you've been to a computer or electronics store recently--or even visited stores' Web sites--you know that there are more products to choose from than ever. Selecting just the right item seems impossible, whether you're shopping for a family member, for a friend, or even for yourself. Eventually you have to narrow down your choices, keeping budget, product quality, and appropriateness in mind.
We can help. We've pinpointed some of the best and most popular products for this holiday season at all price ranges in ten categories: HDTVs, cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders, audio and video players, games, gadgets, desktop PCs, laptops, and printers.
For even more assistance, turn to our expert buying guides, which offer advice on selecting the perfect product in a variety of categories.
HDTV: Higher Definition at a Lower Cost
With its glossy black finish, the 50-inch plasma screen of Pioneer's PDP-5070HD is as handsome when the TV is off as it is when the TV is on. But considering this flat screen's startlingly vivid color decoding and accurate video processing, you'll want it on all the time. The high-end video performance and generous features are pricey, though: This model will cost you around $2850--significantly more than many other plasma TVs today.
The PDP-5070HD, which has a native resolution of 1365 by 768, comes with dual-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture), an integrated ATSC tuner for reception of off-air local HDTV channels, and a CableCard slot for box-free digital cable reception. Pioneer even throws in the programmable TV Guide on-screen service. You also have a generous choice of video inputs: two HDMI inputs and a host of component video connections, including S-Video, composite, RF, and a VGA input for PCs. The included speakers are on a single, detachable bar below the screen, but you can add higher-powered external speakers.
If the 50-inch Pioneer plasma is too expensive for you, consider the $1400 (list) Vizio P42HDTV, a 42-inch plasma flat-screen model with a sharp, bright screen and impressive contrast. The Vizio includes PIP, but it does not have a CableCard slot or a DVI input for use with a PC. Still, with its analog NTSC and digital ATSC tuners and built-in speakers, this is a full-fledged HDTV available at a bargain price.
For more tips on what to look for when purchasing HDTVs, see "The Lowdown on HDTV."
Thin Phones, Big Features
Motorola had a runaway hit with its ultraslim Razr cell phone. Taking the next step--combining the wow factor of the svelte Razr and the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard--was a no-brainer. The Moto Q offers a camera, a music player, and e-mail access in a low-priced, South Beach Diet-size package. The device is available from Verizon Wireless for $199 with a two-year contract.
Running Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0, the Bluetooth-enabled Q boasts a crisp 2.4-inch color LCD--all the better to show off the photos and videos you take with its 1.3-megapixel camera. The full keyboard and side thumb wheel make navigation and text entry easy. The e-mail send and receive functions are optimized for Microsoft Exchange clients, but the unit also supports e-mail from POP3 servers, as well as full Web browsing.
The built-in pair of stereo speakers in the half-inch case might not make your MP3s (or any of the seven supported audio formats) sound great, but they do enhance the Q's speakerphone capabilities. A headphone port gives optimum stereo audio, and a miniSD card slot allows for expanded memory. Oh, yes, the Q works great as a phone, too.
If you're shopping for someone who doesn't need a flood of features, check out the Sanyo Katana (available from Sprint Nextel for $80 with a two-year contract). This slim clamshell model has a VGA camera with dedicated controls that make the feature easy to use; the Bluetooth-enabled phone can send photos wirelessly or by e-mail, too. Available in pink and black, the Katana certainly mimics the Razr V3, but it still has its own high-tech style.