Gadgets Blog » Electronics

I’d like to start today’s article by shamelessly bragging about my winter break from school, which actually has some bearing on today’s topic. I’m from Missoula, Montana. When fall started, I drove from Montana to Los Angeles for college. This wasn’t as bad as it seems, as there was a week-long layover in Lake Tahoe. However, for winter break, I decided it was time to embark upon the ever-alluring college road trip, driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, to Sacramento, to Eugene, to Portland, to Seattle, and finally home. It was a remarkable week of travel, with the only damper coming two weeks later when I had to make the return trip. It was a great trip, and I was able to spend a lot of time exploring the west coast, bonding with Interstate 5, and hanging out in my car.

For that third reason, I feel incredibly qualified to write about some great car electronics that can improve the quality of your vehicle. If you’ve got a long trip in your future, or if you have a regular commute, a few additions to your automobile can greatly improve the use you get out of it. Here are three great kinds of electronics for your car:

Car Speakers:
While many cars on the market already have serviceable audio systems installed, there are always upgrades available if you find your stock system lacking in volume or quality. Most of these speakers require professional installation, making them more expensive than their price tag would indicate. If you have an older model, purchasing a stereo upgrade can be great for your commute. I almost always listen to music while in the car, and it’s a great way to relieve stress while on the road and pass the time on long trips. Some speaker systems are affordable, allowing you to expand your car audio easily. Check out this Pioneer speaker componant package for a great starting point.

GPS Navigation:
If you live in a big city, one of these units can be a great asset. While companies like Garmin and Tom Tom make devices that have many high end features (such as business directories built into the device), a less expensive model will still be a great asset. By having step by step directions to virtually any destination, it can take much of the stress out of driving to a new locale, or driving in a new city. Be forewarned, though, that some units suffer from confusing menu organization, making them downright dangerous to operate while driving. Always exercise caution, and never operate one while in motion. A great deal can be found on some of the entry-level models in the Garmin StreetPilot series.

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.