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LAPTOP Reveals Top 10 Gadget Buying Tips for Holiday Bargain Shoppers

LAPTOP--Mobile Solutions for Business 's38; Life, the leading mobile technology magazine and Web site, today announced its Bargain Hunters's Guide to Gadget Gifts online section (www.laptopmag.com/bargainhunter), aimed at consumers looking for electronics bargains this holiday season. Included in the Guide will be a live webcast offering gadget shopping tips and answering visitor questions, a video showcasing the laptops available in Best Buy'ss Black Friday sales, and LAPTOP'ss top 10 gadget buying tips for holiday shoppers.

The webcast, taking place live on Monday, November 24, at 2 p.m. EST at www.laptopmag.com/bargainhunter, will offer product-based information to help gadget buyers recognize the genuine deals on products ranging from laptops and digital cameras to MP3 players and Bluetooth headsets. LAPTOP will also answer visitors's questions during the webcast with recommendations for the best gadget gifts for anyone on a shopper'ss list, from the non-tech grandma to the fully connected college student.

The Bargain Hunters's Guide will also include a video shot in a Best Buy store, showcasing the laptops available in Best Buy'ss Black Friday sales.

There will be a lot of gadget sales this holiday shopping season, so consumers will have the chance to get fantastic deals on hot products like laptops, camcorders, and more, said Mark Spoonauer, LAPTOP'ss Editor in Chief. But in addition to a great price, shoppers want products that won'st be obsolete by next year. As the mobile tech experts, we can help shoppers separate the deals from the duds.

LAPTOP'ss top 10 gadget buying tips offer shoppers guidance in what specifications to look for in tech products to make sure they are getting a great deal:

1. Notebooks

The key specifications to look for in a budget notebook ($400 to $500) are the RAM and the processor speed. Accept nothing less than 2GB of RAM, but 3GB is even better if available for running Windows Vista. Look for an Intel Dual Core or AMD Turion X2 processor and at least a 2.0-GHz clock speed; pass on Celeron or Pentium processors. Consider at least a 160GB hard drive, 802.11g Wi-Fi capability, and a 15.4-inch or 14.1-inch screen.

2. Netbooks

The hottest laptop category of the year, netbooks (less than $600) offer portability and easy Internet connectivity in a compact package typically weighing less than 3 pounds. Aim for 1GB of RAM and a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor. The latest netbooks have 10-inch screens, run Windows XP, and have at least 80GB hard drives. While a three-cell battery is much cheaper, a six-cell battery offers significantly better battery life at about 4.5 to 5.5 hours versus 2.5 to 3 hours.

3. Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras

Don'st obsess over the megapixel count when it comes to value-priced digital cameras ($99 to $149): 8 megapixels is enough. And ignore claims about digital zoom; a 3X to 5X optical zoom is what counts. Match memory card types (SD or xD) with what memory cards recipients may already have, eliminating the expense of new cards. Look for optical image-stabilization technology, which means less camera shake.

4. Pocket Camcorders

Affordable YouTube-friendly camcorders like the Flip Mino ($179) can plug directly into a USB port for instant video-sharing with friends. If you want more versatility, look for devices that can take still shots and have memory card slots for expanding capacity. High definition is a bonus.

5. Bluetooth Headsets

A noise-canceling Bluetooth headset (around $99) allows friends and family members to make quality calls hands-free with minimal background noise. Picking a good headset is a subjective process, based largely on comfort and fit, beyond voice quality. Look for extras such as rubber eartips and bundled car chargers.

6. Digital Photo Frames

Give the gift that can display all those holiday photos. Look for frames (starting at $99) with a minimum screen size of 7 inches and a memory card reader, for uploading photos directly. Wi-Fi, video playback, and music playback are unnecessary features. Go for style and display quality first.

7. MP3 Players

The biggest trends in portable media players (starting at $79) are shrinking designs and improving sound quality. For music lovers, stick with players that have at least at least 8GB of memory, allowing for a respectable amount of music (in addition to photos and videos).

8. Notebook Bags

Budget doesn'st necessarily mean ugly, with a wide range of stylish backpack, messenger, briefcase, and tote bags available for less than $100. Neoprene sleeves (under $30) are tempting but only work in conjunction with another bag. TSA-approved checkpoint-friendly bags (starting at $79) are great for the frequent traveler.

9. Portable Hard Drives

As larger portable storage devices become available, don'st get fooled into buying an 80GB device they'sll outgrow quickly. Look for a device with a minimum of 250GB of storage (about $85). Want more storage You can get 500GB in a pocket-size drive for $199. Also look for automatic backup software and security software to protect data.

10. Don'st forget the Stocking Stuffers!

For less than $40, plenty of small gadget gifts are available, including:

USB Flash Drives

Portable Speakers

DVDs

Multi-gadget Chargers

We encourage shoppers to do as much research as possible before they buy, and to check online outlets for deals, as well as retail stores. We are offering a Deals of the Day page throughout the holiday shopping season, with daily coupons for savings on electronics (www.laptopmag.com/bestdeals.aspx), as well as loads of gift suggestions in our Gadget Gift Guide, Spoonauer said.

The Bargain Hunters's Guide to Gadget Gifts, a component of LAPTOP'ss annual Gadget Gift Guide, can be found online at: www.laptopmag.com/bargainhunter.

About LAPTOP Magazine 's38; Laptopmag.com:

LAPTOP--Mobile Solutions for Business 's38; Life celebrates the infusion of mobile technology in our daily lives and provides the information and insights that enable its readers to thrive in a wireless world. It serves as the essential guide for mobile professionals and tech-savvy consumers who depend upon our expert product evaluations, helpful how-to advice, and examination of the societal impact of mobile technology. Visit www.laptopmag.com.

For Further Information:

Liz Moran

Marketing Director

LAPTOP Magazine

212-807-8220

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