Prices and Brands and Features, Oh My!

Last Tuesday, my husband parked his four-day old vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel and went inside for a meeting. When he came out, he found three of his windows smashed out and unfortunately his briefcase was stolen, including his BlackBerry, Dictaphone and notebook PC. From the trunk of the vehicle, the thugs stole a projector as well. He was instantly in the market for a whole lot of technology, but where would he even begin?

Whether you're shopping for a computer or a projector, there are several things you might want to keep in mind before you even begin.

Price Range:

Probably the biggest determining factor for a new purchase will be your budget. In my husband's case, he had to approximately match the value of the stolen items. This may be similar to your budget constraints - you might have to match the value of the item you are replacing. Know exactly how much you are able to spend on a specific item before you even begin to shop. If you don't know the price range of a particular item, my rule of thumb is to do some research on how much the best of the best costs, and how much the bottom line costs, and find something in the middle without compromising my needs. Armed with the knowledge of what your item should cost, you will be able to comparison shop and know when you are getting a deal, paying an average price, or getting ripped off.

I find it best to comparison shop for technology online. This will keep you away from sales people who are trying their best to get you to buy the item you need, plus every peripheral and accessory under the sun. Shopping for technology online also allows you do to your homework and really understand everything you need to know about the item you are purchasing before you make the final plunge. When we shopped for a new projector for my husband, we went to Google.com and entered "Comparison Shop for Projectors". From that search, we were able to read articles that reviewed projectors and listed several retailers from which we could make an informed purchase.

Brands:

Shopping for technology by brand name presents a unique challenge because personal opinion comes into play. To test this theory, mention to five different people in your office that you are on the market for a new computer. You will immediately receive five different opinions, likely to be five different brands, and no one will really be able to tell you why one is better than another, other than their experience (which by the way, they will expect you to treat as gospel).

When I consider which brand of technology to purchase, I again hit the Internet and do my homework. There are many sites, including OfficeArrow, that offer reviews on specific technology, especially new gadgets. I also consider the item itself and go by long-standing reputation of certain brands. For example, the general rule of thumb for photographers is that the best brands are Nikon or Cannon, and very few photographers will debate that. Follow your instinct and personal experience. If you've always been willing to spend a little more for HP and those products have always pulled through for you, there's no sense in switching brands just for the sake of switching.

Functionality/Features:

What good is a new piece of technology if it doesn't meet your needs? Don't let price and brand stand in the way of what you need to get the job done. For example, I have placed a new camera on my Wish List. I am also a photographer and I really need one of the best cameras Nikon or Cannon makes to meet my photography needs. Since I don't have a spare $8,000, I am making do with my middle-of-the-road camera until I can buy the camera I need. Sometimes you'll need to adjust the timing of the actual purchase to meet your specific needs. But if you are in immediate need of something, as my husband was, you'll have to take price, brand and functionality/features into consideration and be sure that what you end up purchasing fits into your budget and has the features needed to do the job. Don't make the mistake of leaving yourself lacking functionality with an item just because it was on sale or because Suzie Jane swore by her favorite brand and talked you into trying it. You'll only waste time and money, and end up resenting Suzie Jane.