The Specs That Matter [and the Specs That Don't]

It usually goes like this: An ad in the paper (or online) catches your eye. It lists a few product specs and claims some special features, but that's about it. Still, the price seems okay. May as well pull out the wallet now, right? Wrong!

Don't get suckered by an array of twinkling numbers into buying gear you don't need. To prevent that from happening, you need to arm yourself with more than just marketing material from competing vendors. That's where we can help.

Before you plunk down a credit card to buy anything, ask yourself what you need your new gear to do. Put together a list of the tasks that you have in store for it. For example, do you need high-powered hardware, or are you paying extra for bragging rights? Are all of the features on a particular gadget critical, or can you do everything you want with a lower-priced model that can fulfill the primary wishes on your list?

Get the answers to these kinds of questions first. Then, with a little help from us, you'll be able to sort out which of the features that the vendors are pitching really count.