Buying Guides
Buying Guide for Digital Cameras
In order to choose the right camera--one with the right set of features at the right price--you'll need to figure out what you'll be doing with it. Match your needs to one of these user profiles.
Buying Guide for GPS Units
Originally developed in 1973 by the U.S. Department of Defense for military purposes, the NAVSTAR GPS network consists of 30 satellites orbiting the earth every 12 hours, and five ground stations that monitor the satellites' position in space and operational status. To determine your location and other data accurately, such as current and average speed, directional heading, and elevation, GPS devices use a receiver to acquire signals from at least four of these satellites. This is known as a 3D fix and it's why GPS antennas require an unobstructed view of the sky to work correctly.
Buying Guide for MP3 Players
MP3 players are definitely not one-size-fits-all. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, use different types of memory, and support different formats. Based on these and other features, certain players are better suited to certain uses. Check out the various uses for an MP3 player and figure out which players best meet your needs.
Buying Guide for TVs
After you have your budget squared away, you need to decide how large a screen you want. Usually, the largest screens cost the most, but regardless, the TV should deliver the right-size picture for where you'll sit relative to the screen. Sitting closer to a smaller TV means you won't have to spend as much on a big screen. But if you sit too close, the picture will look poor. Regular TV-viewing distances. Most viewers feel comfortable sitting away from the set at a distance that's between three and six times the width of the screen. The following chart can give you a rough estimate of the minimum and maximum viewing distances for regular 4:3 televisions.