The Best Tech Buys
Our picks for the best tech products you can get your hands on.
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2007
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Our favorite tech gadgets include something for the inner geek in everyone. With these products you can take professional-quality photos, catch every detail of the big game and never have to ask for directions again.
We've laid out our picks in text format below, or you can check them out in our slide show. Here is the best equipment for your money, whether you're getting around town or hanging out at home:
BEST GPS
Magellan Maestro 4050
Price: $550-$650
This portable GPS navigator has a 4.3-inch touch screen that's big, bright and easy to operate. The unit gives voice directions using street names -- "turn left at First Street" -- and up-to-date travel information from AAA, including restaurants, hotels and campgrounds.
BEST SMART PHONE
Apple iPhone
Price: $400
The iPhone isn't cheap, but it's the best handset for those who want it all: mobile phone, Web browser, iPod, camera, video player and more. And the ingenious touch screen is a breeze to learn-no small feat for a feature-packed device.
BIG-SCREEN TV
Panasonic TH-50PX77U
Price: $1,700
A true HDTV experience demands a 50-inch or larger display. But which big screen is the best value? The Panasonic TH-50PX77U plasma gets our vote. The picture is beautiful and vibrant, with deep blacks.
BEST LAPTOP PC
Hewlett-Packard Pavillion DV6500T
Price: Starts at $600
This customizable laptop starts at $600 (when purchased at HPUs Web site). For $750, you get a fast Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 gigabytes of memory, a 15.4-inch widescreen display, a 120GB hard drive and a webcam. Plus, it's sleek.
BEST SMALL DIGITAL CAMERA
Canon Powershot SD750 Digital Elph
Price: $250
The PowerShot rises above the pack with an unusually large, 3-inch display. It's affordable and offers excellent photo quality (7.1 megapixels). The controls are mostly intuitive, but you'll have to crack the manual to master advanced features.
BEST DIGITAL SLR CAMERA
Nikon D40x
Price: $700 with an
18P55mm lens
Many digital single-lens-reflex cameras (DSLRs) are built for pros and tricky to use. But the Nikon D40x makes it easier to learn higher-end digital photography. Its 10.2-megapixel sensor is powerful, and the price is reasonable.
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