For most diehard techies, they could never resist the allure of that brand new gadget that will be hitting the stores. These are individuals who would monitor the news and the Internet on the release dates of iPhones and iPads, Mac and Microsoft operating systems, and other devices through various computer websites and forums. Just a whiff of a possible release would already have them saving up their allowances or a percentage of their paychecks in order to buy these gadgets FIRST. After all, having that brand new device first means that they will be the envy of friends, relatives and strangers.
But if you really think about it, is that hot new gadget fresh off the shelves really something that you 'have to buy'?
Let's say that a new device is going to be released in the market very, very soon. Here are some tips that you should keep in mind before actually splurging on that new product.
1) Don't fall for pre-release hype. Days—even months
—before the release of a new gadget, you will read full page ads about it in your newspapers or magazines and see eye-catching plugs on the Internet. These ads will only provide positive information about the device so that you will be enticed to buy it before it comes out. However, don't let yourself be lured by all the hype. Dig a little deeper. These products are usually given to columnists on computer websites for them to try out and review. Read the reviews from these sites before deciding to buy the gadget.
2) Just because it's brand new doesn't necessarily mean it's good. It is not surprising to find devices having brisk sales in the beginning, only to slow down and even grind to a halt a mere week that it has been released. The reason for this is that people who have bought the gadget have discovered that it is not as useful as they first thought or is much too complicated for them. As a result, they tell their friends not to buy the device. Again, don't immediately pull out your wallet. Read both positive and negative reviews about the gadget. Be very wary of devices which have only positive or very little reviews. Just because the reviews are glowing or there are no reviews at all, this does not mean that the product is worth your money. In fact, most of the time, it's the opposite.
3) Always check the price tag. If there is anything that should instantly turn you off from buying a new product, it would be its price. Hot, off-the-shelf gadgets are usually very expensive. It is more advisable to wait for a few months to buy it at a more reasonable price.
4) Brand new devices will most surely have bugs in them. Practically every manufacturer, and not just of tech devices, will tell their potential buyers that their products have gone through quality testing. However, such quality testing involves only a handful of test subjects who do not even represent the user needs and habits of an entire tech savvy population. Place the gadget in the hands of a tech geek and he or she is likely to discover bugs in the unit. Again, it is best to wait for any bugs to be resolved before buying the device.
Discover more useful tips which can help you decide on whether or not you should get that 'have to buy' gadget!
Maria writes for All IT Supported, a leading computer support company that specializes in helping non-technical users solve their technology problems.