Technology Shopping and the Holidays
The end of a year is always fun when it comes to technology. This is when many hardware manufacturers and software publishers come out with the latest iteration of their products hoping to grab a piece of the gift giving season. This is year is no different, but does have some special notes that shoppers and business buyers need to keep in mind.
A family member forwarded a list of stores that may not be in business come January, due to the economic situation. A list can be found at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/storeclosings.asp . Of concern is gift cards that these businesses sell for the present idea challenged among us. Although these gift cards may be legally sold throughout the holiday season, the stores themselves may be closed come January. The list is too long to include here so be sure to check that website for more information.
Although Microsoft will continue supporting the Windows XP operating system into 2014, you will not be able to purchase it with a new computer system by this time next month. This is of concern to anyone who has applications that will not run on Windows Vista, particularly businesses with custom modified programs. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are some terrific deals to be taken advantage of, again, due to the economy. So if you want a new system, and you want it to come with Windows XP, now is the time to get it!
I like seeing the new stuff come out, but I also advocate researching the reviews and articles on hardware by folks such as PC Magazine, EWeek, Cnet and others. I prefer to wait for the initial "bugs" to be worked out by someone else and thus will usually avoid buying something that is less than six months old. Keep that in mind, as well, as you select a technology oriented gift for someone special. The last thing you'd want is the joy of giving and receiving be replaced by the aggravation of an item that turned out to be "not ready for prime time".
Last, but not least, keep in mind that the return policies for electronics may differ from other merchandise and from store to store. Check the store policies regarding this equipment and make sure you allow your gift recipient time to use and return the iitem within the allotted time period, if neccessary.
A family member forwarded a list of stores that may not be in business come January, due to the economic situation. A list can be found at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/storeclosings.asp . Of concern is gift cards that these businesses sell for the present idea challenged among us. Although these gift cards may be legally sold throughout the holiday season, the stores themselves may be closed come January. The list is too long to include here so be sure to check that website for more information.
Although Microsoft will continue supporting the Windows XP operating system into 2014, you will not be able to purchase it with a new computer system by this time next month. This is of concern to anyone who has applications that will not run on Windows Vista, particularly businesses with custom modified programs. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are some terrific deals to be taken advantage of, again, due to the economy. So if you want a new system, and you want it to come with Windows XP, now is the time to get it!
I like seeing the new stuff come out, but I also advocate researching the reviews and articles on hardware by folks such as PC Magazine, EWeek, Cnet and others. I prefer to wait for the initial "bugs" to be worked out by someone else and thus will usually avoid buying something that is less than six months old. Keep that in mind, as well, as you select a technology oriented gift for someone special. The last thing you'd want is the joy of giving and receiving be replaced by the aggravation of an item that turned out to be "not ready for prime time".
Last, but not least, keep in mind that the return policies for electronics may differ from other merchandise and from store to store. Check the store policies regarding this equipment and make sure you allow your gift recipient time to use and return the iitem within the allotted time period, if neccessary.
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