Gadgets Blog » Buying Guides

Investing in a new electronic can be expensive, and oftentimes its a difficult decision if your current gadget works well. Instead of opting for a new device, look into making a purchase that extends both the life and functionality of something you already have. You’re likely to save money in the process, and you can open up some exciting new abilities in your home, office, or living room.

XBOX 360 20 GB Hard Drive
A great asset of the Xbox 360 is that it can serve as far more than a video game console. The 360 is capable of playing movies, music, and storing pictures, but most of these other media options require a significant amount of storage space. If you don’t already have one, the addition of a hard drive to your Xbox 360 enables some great new functions. The unit simply snaps onto the top of the game console and then it’s ready to use. Files can easily be transported through the USB ports found on the front of the console, making it easy to move movies over for viewing on the big screen. Finally, the 360 has some great built-in programs for music and photo organization, and the addition of a hard drive can make the Xbox a great home media center in your living room.

Deals on Computer Servers
An upgrade to your computer server can be a great benefit to the networking capabilities of your company. These servers, available at some great prices through Smarter, have the ability to increase both the speed of your network computing as well as the amount of traffic your network can handle. While businesses with larger networking needs might be best to look for upper-end models, a smaller company will find more than enough in some of these budget servers. Whether you’re working on a local network or looking for the hardware to support an overhaul to your company’s website, Smarter has a server that can fit both your business and budgetary needs.

HP USB TV Tuner
If you have a PC desktop or laptop that runs Windows Vista, this gadget is a great way and inexpensive way to bring television to your computer. The device lets you watch, record, and pause live TV, and also features a built-in FM radio receiver as well. If you’re on the go, this unit can be a great way to keep on top of your favorite television shows, and its strong reception power means you’ll have access to signals regardless of where you are. As an added bonus, there’s no additional software to install for the model to work; you can simply plug it into a USB port, and it’s ready to go. This is a great device for a frequent traveler and an inexpensive way to increase the media functionality of your PC laptop.

Navigating the wilderness of high definition televisions can be a confusing mess with so many specifications and features to choose from. For a new consumer, there are several key factors to keep in mind while purchasing a new HDTV television set. There are different types of television available on the market, and with a number of choices, it’s easy to become confused as to the distinctions between genres. In the realm of flat-panel TVs, the primary categories are plasma and LCD sets. If you’re shopping for a set smaller than 42″, only LCD sets are available. For larger screens, the two different types of screes offer slightly different viewing experiences. If you’re on a limited budget, a plasma set will have slightly worse contrast of colors, and the darker shades will appear muddled compared to a similarly priced LCD screen. Alternatively, more expensive plasma screens will have noticeably better picture quality than LCD models.

The specifications of a television can be confusing, and a talented floor salesmen will be able to hurl them at a customer in an impressive and puzzling barrage of statistics. There are only a handful that you, as the customer, should be concerned about. The first, and arguably most important, is the screen resolution. Just as in computer monitors, the resolution measures the number of pixels present on the screen, with the first measure measuring the width of the screen and the second measuring the height. Currently, the digital content that appears on a TV screen comes in only a handful of formats, which can be broken down as follows:

480i: A typical analog TV display
480p: A progressive-scan DVD player
720p: Satellite and Cable broadcasts
1080i: Some higher quality satellite and cable broadcasts
1080p: Blu-Ray DVD player

It should be noted that these are the optimal settings for such a television. Just because you own a 720p television doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Blu-ray DVDs, it just means you’re not tapping into the full potential of the player. To take full advantage of a high-definition input source, you’ll also need a high quality video interface. An HDMI or DVI interface will allow for the best-quality in picture, and most DVD players and video game consoles have the ability to connect into one of these ports.

The final important specifications are the aspect ratio and the contrast ration. The aspect ratio is the relationship between screen width and screen height. Old-school analog sets had a ratio of 4:3, but the industry has slowly been moving towards wide-screen formats like HDTV. Wide screen models have a ration of 16:9, which will make most movies and TV shows look great. Finally, the contrast ratio, which measures the difference between dark and light colors, should be examined. LCD specifications start around 600:1 while plasmas have an advantage at 1000:1. However, it should be noted that your primary concern should be how the screen fits your viewing environment, and the lighting conditions therein. Hopefully, with these guidelines, you’ll be able to narrow down the search and be well on your way to a brand new HDTV.

Today we’re looking at some great gadgets available at some great prices, which should be a great asset to anyone feeling the post-Holiday crunch. This time of year can be excellent for a smart shopper, as there are plenty of deals to go around. Companies are trying to clear off their shelves for new products, but here at Smarter we have some great items and even better deals.

Great Deals on Game Controllers!
For an avid video gamer, the controller can make all the difference. For the major consoles, there can be a bit of a decision to make, as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all have their own official controllers available, whereas third party developers oftentimes have units for significantly less. Alternative game controllers oftentimes boast features that can give huge boosts to the gaming experience. If you’re a PC or Playstation 3 racing fanatic, the Logitech G 25 Force Feedback Wheel provides one of the most realistic driving experiences available at a reasonable price for such a high-end steering wheel. Other great deals include the Thrustmaster Wireless Pad for the Playstation 3. It features a more naturally contoured fit to the hand that is very similar to the Xbox 360 controller. Also, the rubber grips function great during marathon gaming sessions and are a great cure for sweaty palms. If you prefer to stick with brand-name controllers, Nintendo offers a “Classic Controller” for the Wii that has the same shape and button scheme as the classic Super Nintendo controllers, which can be great for games where the Wii Numchuck isn’t a good fit for game play.

Great Deals on Dell Computer Hardware!
One great advantage of owning a PC desktop is the ease with which the hardware components can be upgraded. Instead of throwing down close to $1000 for a brand new machine, it’s straightforward to purchase and install new parts, such as video cards, sound cards, and memory. This extends the longevity of the computer, without the need for an entirely new model. Here at Smarter, we have some great deals right now on Dell hardware, which means it could be the perfect time to upgrade your machine. A Dell memory module is a great way to boost the RAM, giving increased computer speed and performance, while a Dell heatsink and fan can ensure the performance of your CPU, especially important if you opt to overclock your machine. If you’re in the market for a new PC, I strongly recommend looking into available upgrades first! You can save a lot of money by choosing to upgrade your current desktop instead of replacing it.