- High Definition DVD Players
Price: $500-$1,000
Remember the battle between Betamax and VHS? Well, the format wars are back. Only this time the fight is between the Blu-ray and HD DVD players. What does this mean for consumers? If you invest in one of these platforms over the other you risk building up a library of movies for a technology that could soon be obsolete. And even if you're willing to make the bet on which format will ultimately dominate, the payoff just isn't that high. Netflix, which boasts a catalog of over 70,000 titles, only carries a limited number of Blu-ray and HD DVD movies.
Assuming you find a title you want to watch, you may not even realize the picture or sound is any sharper if you already have a high-definition television. (Click here for a high-def TV buying guide.) Better to wait on the sidelines until there's a clear winner and prices drop.
2. PlayStation 3
Price: $600
If you're a gamer, chances are there's a Sony PlayStation 3 on your wish list. And while the game system's initial bugs (games freezing and problems with set up) appear to be fixed thanks to a recent upgrade, there are still a couple of reasons to hold off owning one. Specifically, there are a limited number of new games available and the system carries a steep price tag. Currently, there are only 32 new PS3 games for sale at Sonystyle.com: Six of them are ready for delivery, 13 are on backorder, and 13 can be pre-ordered for when they are finally released. (Many release dates for new titles keep getting pushed back.)
If you're simply looking for a fun game system, you can find a Nintendo Wii (try eBay) or Xbox for around $400. You could also simply wait for more PS3 games or for the system itself to come down in price. Want to learn more? Click here to read more about the gaming wars.
- "Draft N" Wireless Routers
Price: $130
Setting up a wireless network at home? Then you'll need a wireless router, which allows multiple computers to use one Internet connection. Unless you consider PC Magazine light reading, choosing the right router may be intimidating. Chances are the salesman at your local electronics retailer will push one of the newer models on you. These are called "Draft N" routers. The promised benefit is that they offer the latest technology and more security against hackers.
While it's true that "Draft N" routers do offer the latest technology, they haven't been perfected. (That's why it's only a draft version.) What this means for consumers is that there's no guarantee that it'll be compatible with your current or future wireless adapter or network card. To avoid any compatibility issues, consumers can buy a cheaper "G" wireless router that is proven to work with all existing products on the market, says ConsumerSearch.com's managing editor Christine Frietchen. The savings? The "G" is roughly half the price of the newer "Draft N" version.
- Windows Vista Operating System
Price: $239
Windows Vista isn't exactly a gadget. But it does run on one. And if you want to keep your largest toy as up to date as possible, you may feel tempted to upgrade to Microsoft's latest operating system. CNET's Merritt suggests you wait. As with every new operating system, there are always some bugs that need to be worked out in the beginning.
Also, if you really want to exploit Vista's cool new advances, such as the transparent menu bars, then you'll need to purchase the premium version. There's just one problem: There's no guarantee that your current computer can handle it. PCs that are even just a couple of years old don't have enough memory to support it. You'll need 1GB of RAM memory and 15GB of free memory on a 40GB hard drive to run the "premium" package. In the meantime, if you're happy with your current version of Windows, Merritt suggests sticking with it. There's no huge benefit to upgrading now. Just keep using your current computer until you need to buy a new one and then you'll get a cleaned up version of Vista for free.
- 10 Megapixel Digital Camera
Price: Around $300
There's no reason to be dazzled by a 7 or 10 megapixel digital camera. When shopping for a basic point-and-shoot camera all you need are 5 megapixels, says Consumer Reports' electronics editor Paul Reynolds. The reality is that the average consumer won't notice any improvement in picture quality unless he plans to enlarge the photo to poster size or heavily crop the images, he says. One thing shoppers will notice, however, is a price difference. A good 5 megapixel camera costs just $150 while the Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 10 megapixel camera, for example, will run $290.
http://www.smartmoney.com/top5/index.cfm?story=20070213
A ver ese salseo xD
