MiddletownJournal.com

A primer on shopping for holiday electronics

ATLANTA — Holiday shopping seemed so much easier when kids just wanted their two front teeth.

Now, they want MP3 players, PS3s and things that have 1,080p. Parents and grandparents cannot shop for children, or each other, without speaking in what sounds like techie tongues. They're talking about things like Bluetooth and Blu-ray but often not knowing what any of the odd-sounding terms and acronyms mean.

Which raises an important question: How does one get up to speed on consumer electronics without getting a degree in electrical engineering? Considering that more than 20,000 new electronics products were introduced in 2006 alone, it can be a daunting task.

"It can certainly get confusing if you get mired in the techno-speak," said Becca Horton, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Electronics Association of America in Arlington, Va. "I've worked here six years, and I still don't understand the jargon."

And yet, here's an example of how fast some electronic devices work their way into our lexicon and our lifestyles: MP3 digital music players were not even on the market six years ago. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that 33 million MP3 players will be sold by year's end.

This year, consumer electronics spending is projected to account for 24 percent of all holiday shopping, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Average household spending on electronics is expected to be $195 this season, so it pays to plug in to how you will spend your money.

To help customers, and, of course, to keep profits growing, consumer electronics retailers have started offering personal shopping assistants.

At Best Buy, for example, consumers can set up an appointment or simply walk into some stores and ask for a personal assistant. The assistant will review the customers' needs and budget and help steer them to the right product, said Shai Cox, a personal shopping assistant at Best Buy in Alpharetta. Shoppers often have plenty of questions.

"Parents are confused about PS3s and Nintendo Wii's," Cox said. "What they're asking is, 'If I have a 12-year-old, which one do I get?' "

That could be a moot point for now. Sony's PlayStation 3, which made its debut less than two weeks ago, is nearly impossible to find. The same is true for the Wii, although Nintendo is promising Christmas shipments.

Another frequent question: what's the difference between a plasma TV and an LCD (liquid crystal display) TV?

Even the answer is confusing: a circulating gas in the plasma state reacts with phosphors to produce colored light. An LCD is liquid crystal display, like the screen on your computer. Both are flat-panel TVs.

Got that? Yeah, neither did we until we kept pressing and finally heard that an LCD TV is likely to have less glare, so it could work better in a room with a lot of light. Plasmas are available in much larger sizes, though.

With all this in mind, we talked to experts about some of the most frequently asked electronics questions to help you shop for your holiday electronics.

Arrive at the store prepared. Know what you already have and also have a general idea of what you are looking for.

If you can, visit a Web site for electronics buying, such as www.myceknowhow.com, that can provide in-depth guidance. Have a budget and compare prices.

Don't worry so much about how the device works; to most of us, it's magic anyway. Besides, the technology will likely change rapidly. Instead, focus on what you want the device to do and how you will apply it to your life. For instance, if you are looking for a laptop, consider how much you travel. Do you therefore want a lightweight laptop? Or, do you watch a lot of movies on your computer? You might then want a large- screen laptop.

Don't leave the store without asking how to connect your basic components, especially with home theater components. Some retailers will connect components for you, so ask. Also, check out the electronics association Web site on connections, www.ceconnections

guide.com.

When buying electronic gifts, don't forget accessories, such as batteries, ear buds, docking stations or remote controls. Such smaller items not only can make nice stocking stuffers but can also be less expensive gifts that children can give to parents or to one another.

ATMBY (OR ACRONYMS THAT MAY BAFFLE YOU)

DTV: Digital TV, as opposed to the old-fashioned cathode-ray tube TVs. The picture is much, much clearer.

LCD: Liquid crystal display screens, best known as flat-panel TV technology. Until recently, LCD was limited to smaller screen sizes such as e those on digital cameras and laptop PCs.

MP3 PLAYER: Very small digital music storage device that allows you to download thousands of songs and is fast expanding its range of options to include other capabilities.

PS3: Sony's latest PlayStation game, released Nov. 16.

HD-DVD: High-definition digital video display.

HDTV: High definition television.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOME DEVICES:

LCD TVs AND PLASMA TVs: The technology is different, but the result is the same: a very clear, very well-defined picture. Plasma screen TVs have been out for several years, but they were unaffordable for many. This season, 42-inch plasma screens have sold for less than $1,000 — a fifth of their cost only a few years back. LCD technology, like plasma screens, has been around for several years but not on TV screens. Consider price and usage. Generally, an LCD screen will have less glare, so an LCD may be better in a room with a lot of light. However, if size matters — plasma TVs can be as large as 103 inches.

MP3 PLAYERS: iPod, with its trademark click wheel, led the way in making MP3s skyrocket in popularity in the past five years. They seem to be as ubiquitous as microwaves. And, like microwaves, the selection of MP3 players seems to be nearly endless. When buying one as a gift, consider such things as size of the device (they are getting smaller all the time); memory size; whether you want one with video capacity; whether your giftee likes podcasts that he or she might simply delete after listening to one; or whether your giftee is an athlete who might want a very small one, like Apple's new iPod Shuffle, that is tiny, lightweight and allows the person to clip the device to clothing during a workout.

BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY AND BLU-RAY TECHNOLOGY: Bluetooth is a wireless product that allows different products to communicate without a wire within a short range. Blu-ray is Sony's latest DVD technology that allows you to get as clear a picture as possible.

DIGITAL CAMERAS: They just keep getting better, which is good, as adults list digital cameras as one of their most-hoped for electronics gifts for the holidays. Mega-pixel technology allows you to enlarge pictures to portrait size and still retain high-quality definition; earlier digital cameras have not typically been able to deliver that degree of clarity. Because prices will vary widely, consider carefully what you want. Do you need a camera to do video? Do you want one with a bigger viewfinder? Do you want video with a speaker? Do you travel often? If so, you may want a camera with a long battery life.

Virginia Anderson writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.