Gadget-wise, it pays to be Wise

Two giant networks - Smart and Globe are in an intense competition these days. Since Globe is no longer the exclusive network who can sell Apple's latest reboot of its iPhone4 product, now with a humble virtual assistant called Siri - the iPhone4s, the consumers must be happy they have a choice now.

Just as these are exciting developments to follow, it is even more a wish to be there in advance where this competition is leading us. But more than the price, consumers expect secure and reliable broadband connection. For a smart take on this, see Unbox.ph's showdown series: [1] [2] [3] For a countdown today, here's techie.com.ph's article for that.

 But buying an iPhone4s is not what usually preoccupies every consumer's gadget shopping time. It is just the hottest buzz nowadays. There's more.

When the months of November and December creep in, some consumers are usually very predictable that they didn't notice it, particularly when buying gadgets and digital accessories. It seems that these two months have been declared the default season to change one's old car, digital camera or mobile phone into something more savvy and more expensive.

Spending year-end bonuses to buy and spend for a brand new laptop or a mobile phone may seem justified. However, the decision should be more dictated by thorough evaluation of specifications, affordability and relevance to one's work or productivity needs (especially to those who are really after the worth of money spent on products).

Because when January comes - another default month, least to say, it's blaming season when regrets pour in.

Of course, most consumer companies selling their services and goods have earned their doctorate degrees in understanding consumer behavior and buying preferences. They are motivated more by profitability than giving you, the consumer, the penultimate and absolute gadget or digital devices that you need. Marketing also plays a key role in creating buzz, hype and madness when there are promos, contests and sale. 

Anyway, apart from the iPhone4s, which many of you (like me) may be wishing someday of owning, there are other gadgets and digital devices that you might want to check out. Again, as a tip, look for what you feel will be there for you for a long time and give you the best use.

From most magazine and tech websites, the most common picks are the following:

• Apple's Macbook Air (Summer 2011 Refresh), iMac (Spring 2011), iPhone4 and iPhone4s, and iPad2
• Amazon's Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch
• Nook Tablet
• Nokia Lumia 800, Microsoft Windows 7, 
• Asus EEE Pad Transformer Prime

• Samsung's Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Nexus, and Galaxy Tab 7.7 and 10.1 tablets

HTC Titan 

• Lenovo IdeaPad U300/U400 ultrabooks


The gadgets in my list are not all cheap, you may or may not need any of those, but they are worth comparing with other gadgets out there. Price is relative, even preference for gadgets. So again, just think wisely.

 

From around the web, here are some popular magazines and tech sites that already gave their selections of the year's best gadgets:

• Farhad Manjoo of Slate.com list of the year's best gadgets

• Popular Mechanics Magazine's Top 19 Gadgets at CES 2011

• Gizmodo's Best Gadgets of 2011 here - [1] [2] [3]

• SmartCompany.com.au's Top 10 Gadgets for 2011 

• The Atlantic Magazine's Steve Kovach list of 20 Best gadgets for 2011

• TechRadar.com's Rob Mead-Green list of top 10 best gadgets at IFA 2011

Enjoy!