Best Gadgets I Bought in the Past Year
I was thinking about a few of the cool things I bought last year, and I thought I’d share a few of them. Keep in mind that I am definitely NOT a technologically advanced being. Sadly, I am often the last of the great spenders to jump in. And note, I almost never buy the newest gadget as I can’t stand the PAIN of seeing it for hundreds less often within weeks after the purchase.
I’d also like invite you to post a comment and share some of yours.
First and with a tad of embarrassment, I bought my first MP3 player. Actually, I guess it was my second as years ago I bought a RIO that held about 8 songs! I remember paying about $160 bucks on sale! That was about $160 bucks too much as within a short time, technology moved to improve MP3 storage and there were some much better options available. The MP3 I bought was a Sansa 2.0 GB, e250v2 with an expandable slot. I have hundreds of songs on it now and am about ready to get another card to load up. I really like it. It has a nice display to it and sounds great. I found Amazon provided the best prices on the music and was very easy to manage the downloads.
The Flip Video Recorder was next. It has been a fantastic tool for learning and using digital video. I bought it after reading so many recommendations on its quality and ease of use. While it is not really made for shooting your kids sporting events, if you are doing any kind of online video, you can not beat it! I shot a bit of the flight over the Grand Canyon here, Using the FLiP over the Grand Canyon. My next upgrade in this department is upgrading to the HD digital Flip MINO.
I purchased the Canon PowerShot digital camera and have loved it. I updated to this model just before taking a cruise. It was so convenient to be able to carry it comfortably in a pocket and the quality of pictures is very good. I really have liked this camera and find it is hard to go wrong with the Canon brand.
My best buy was my upgrade to a new cell phone. Because my kids have been on the Verizon network, I was limited to their phones. After weeks of looking and considering, I found the LG Dare and it has been the best cell I have had. It has a 3.2 Mega Pixel camera. Best of all it is a completely touch screen. I had no idea how cool this is. I even don’t mind texting with it as it gives you the option of a traditional keyboard by turning the phone sideways. I have decided that the touch screen is a must on any future phones. We’ve come a long way since the rotary phones we had when I was a kid. The large screen is well lit and has great definition. A video review on youtube help me make my decision. It was my best purchase thus far.
Verizon LG Dare
With the exception of the LG Dare, I bought these using Amazon.com. The prices were always lower there even after shipping.
Any suggestions for must have technology that you have or use? Leave a comment.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
“I almost never buy the newest gadget as I can’t stand the PAIN of seeing it for hundreds less often within weeks after the purchase.”
Due to poverty, I couldnt buy the new gadgets even if I wanted to (this computer of mine was a Christmas gift from a well to do relative). So poverty does have its advantages as it forces me to wait for the new gadgets to come down in price. By the time I finally buy something “new”, almost everyone else already owns one. This goes for VCRs, DVD players, computers, microwave ovens, etc.
I didnt get my first VCR until the mid 1980s. By the time, everyone I knew already had one. In the 1970s, those things used to cost about 1200-2000. By the time I bought mine, it cost 250. And that was the lowest price that could be had at the time. There were still models that cost anywhere from 300-800.
When DVD players came out, they were around 600 bucks. I had to wait a couple years before I could buy one. Originally the first one I bought a 5 disc player (for about 100 bucks) because I liked the idea of filling up the carousel with 5 DVDs and not having to get my butt off the couch to change discs. However, that broke down in only 2 months. I brought it in to the place I bought it from. They couldnt contact their repair center, so they allowed me to exchange it for a brand new player (for up to the same price. Anything over came out of my pocket). I chose another 5 disc DVD player (but a different brand) I took that new one home and it wouldnt work out of the box! I brought that one back to the store the next day. This time they were able to get in touch with their repair center, and they informed me that it would be about 4-6 weeks for me to get it back. I waited the full 6 weeks, went back to the store and retrieved my fixed DVD player, took it home and it worked for only about 8 months before it broke down.
Rather than bring it in again, I decided to get another DVD player. Having nothing but trouble with 5 disc DVD players, I decided to go with a single disc DVD player. That turned out to be a smart decision. I went with a combo DVD/VCR player so that I could also play my VCR tapes (at the time I owned a heck of alot of more videotapes than DVDs). The price? 60 bucks. But I also had a 50 dollar gift card (cant recall where I got the card except to say that I got it for free). So, it cost me only 10 bucks. It was about 2 1/2 years before the DVD player part of it broke down (the VCR part of it still worked). So I bought another combo DVD VCR player for another 60 bucks. That worked for a couple years before the VCR part of that stopped working (but the DVD player part still works)! So, rather than go through the expense of buying another one, I still use them both. One for VCR tapes, the other for DVD.
Now as for those new fangled flat screen digital hdtv/lcd televisions, there is NO way I can currently afford one of those. I might have to wait a few years same way I did for all my gadgets.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I think an Ipod or Mp3 is a must have because it exposes people to more music. I really like my Ipod. I am with Leo, I didn’t buy any gadgets in 2008 because I make 1/3 of what I did as an accountant, but my occupation has a LOT of nonmonetary value. I lost my Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital Camera a few days ago. I really liked that camera. What do you think, I’m going through my 2008 journals to make sure I got all my resolutions down and I had a dream that people were plowing pictures instead of seeds in a field:) It must be in a field somewhere I guess.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I just ordered two Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video cameras. One for the kids and one for my Wife and I. I’m looking forward to getting it and adding some video content to my blog.
January 18th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Hmmmmm. You’re embarrassed that you finally bought an .mp3 player? Well, I still don’t own one. I don’t buy anything things days… not that I’m looking for pity.
Way to go with all the blog entries!