Tech Gear to Watch in 2004
From smart phones to fancy MP3 players, and from satellite radio to combo DVD/DVR players (and more), here's what you need to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Michael Cahlin
Picture Perfect: Digital Cameras
Industry trend: Coveted 5-megapixel digital cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot S50, just dipped under $400--something most of us thought was impossible a year ago. See PC World's review of the Canon PowerShot S50.
Expect falling prices to continue in 2004, especially on 3.2-megapixel (and lower) models. Concord Camera will be introducing new 3- and 4-megapixel digital cameras for under $200 at Winter CES 2004.
Manufacturers seem to be focused on packing more features into a smaller and lighter casing, and making camera-to-computer interfaces, smart menus, and controls easier to use. Look for more powerful optical zooms and scads of automatic features and on-camera manual controls to make snapping sophisticated pictures easier.
The HP Photosmart 935 ($350) is another example of an affordable 5-megapixel camera. Check out PC World's review.
If you're willing to trade megapixels for style, you'll pay about the same for the ultracompact Minolta Dimage Xt ($225 and up), a 3.2-megapixel cutie, because of its radical thin, square design and built-in zoom that eliminates waiting for the lens to telescope out. See PC World's review of the Minolta Dimage Xt.
For the best bang for your digital bucks, Gateway is offering a 2-megapixel camera, the DC-T20 Digital Camera, for $99, and a new price-busting 4.1-megapixel DC-M42 and (larger-size) 5-megapixel DC-M50 camera--both cameras recently dropped in price from $250 to $200. If you don't mind sending back an arsenal of mail-in rebates, Gateway is currently tossing in a free Epson Stylus CX3200 multifunction printer (along with 100 sheets of Epson's high-gloss photo paper).
Check out PC World's Top 10 Digital Cameras.
With HP wireless printers, you could have printed this from any room in the house. Live wirelessly. Print wirelessly.
HP Ink Center
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