(NAPS)—If you’re nuts for gadgets and gizmos, you're not alone. Americansjust love all the devices that bring us information, enter- tainment and connections from anywhere and everywhere. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reports that 58 percent of Americans own a per- sonal computer; 39 percent own a camcorder; 23 percent of all households own all the audio and video equipment needed to create a surround-sound movie theater experience in their home; and 15 percent own a DVDplayer. To capitalize on demand, consumer electronics products have now gone “trendy” by infiltrating the fashion industry. There’s now a market for devices that allow consumers to express their individuality. Apple wasoneofthe first manufacturers to offer consumers a color choice when it introduced its iMac computer. (If you can’t stop bragging about your blueberry iMac, you know the phenomenon.) These gadgets are cute and appealing so it’s hard not to go overboard. But before you blow your savings, determine what you really need. It may not be the most expensive digital organizer or laptop computer with all the bells and whistles. A less expensive model mayoffer all the functionality you require. For example, do you need a desktop or laptop computer? How important is portability? Some laptops let you add full-size monitors and keyboards for home or office use. What do you want your computer to do: word processing; home finances; games? What other features do you need: soundcard; modem; CD-ROM? Decide what features and software you need, and then start comparisonshopping. Every two-seconds a com- puter, photo or consumer elec- tronics product is sold on eBay. The site offers some of the best selection and value on all computer-related products. PC Magazine andbeststuff.com are great resourcesfor finding “best in category” ratings. Consumer REVIEW.com offers thousands of product reviewsall written by consumers, and by simply answering a handful of questions, Active Buyer’s Guide (www.active decisions.com) will provide a product recommendation based on the information you provide and the requirements you identify. Once you’ve decided on a product, finding the best deal may not be that tricky. Many Americans are surprised to learn that eBay has grown to becomethe largest online marketplace for computers and consumerelectronics. More than 400,000 computer, photo and consumer electronics products are up for sale daily on eBay at some of the best prices available. More than 50 percent of these items are brand new. You'll find computers, home theater systems, car stereos, PDAs, digital cameras, camcorders and more at www.ebay.com. You might just save some seri- ous money while you’re grabbing the gizmo of your dreams.
