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Peripherals
By Rebecca Viksnins, Associate editor
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Christmas dinner would be nothing without the sides. The same goes for peripherals. Don't ruin your perfectly good desktop or imaging setup by skimping on the peripherals. Check out our favorite printers, scanners, mice, storage devices, and speaker systems.
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Don't discount the CRT. The performance of flat-panel LCDs has improved markedly, but they are still hard to calibrate, and their image is less uniform than that of a traditional CRT, which is also much less expensive. Check out CNET's monitor buying guide for more on the differences between CRTs and LCDs. If you do choose a CRT monitor, don't forget to throw in some calibration software.
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Don't make an old dog learn new tricks. There are a lot of wacky interface devices out there such as split "natural" keyboards. Most of us don't want to relearn how to type, so as a general rule, stay away from input devices with unusual keyboard and button layouts. We're all for innovation, but the standard QWERTY design has been around since 1868. If it ain't broke...
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Don't get caught with a lame warranty. Most manufacturers offer at least two to three years of parts-and-labor coverage on peripherals; anything less is suspect. If you're buying an LCD, make sure that the backlight is covered and that the manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee. Most displays show their problems right out of the box or within the first month or two of use, so you want your recipient to be able to return it for a refund or an exchange with a minimum of hassle.
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Don't trust the specs. The numbers tell only half the story, and manufacturers are notoriously optimistic when it comes to measuring performance; plus, there's no accounting for taste when it comes to something as personal as a computer monitor. Instead of relying on suspect specs, read hands-on reviews that use industry-standard performance measurements before you head to the store.
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Know thy giftee's display needs. If your giftee plans to use the monitor for gaming or watching TV or movies, be careful when buying an LCD. Overall, CRTs are still better for these particular tasks, though LCDs are starting to close the gap. If you choose an LCD, get one with a good pixel response rate, which is measured in milliseconds (lower is better). Also, bring a DVD or a game to the store to make sure the images are sharp and don't smear.
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Pay attention to the cost of consumables. You may have gotten that printer on the cheap, but manufacturers have a way of eating up whatever you save by charging a bundle for ink and paper. Find out how many ink cartridges your loved one's new printer uses and what he or she can expect to pay for each. Tip: Printers that use individual ink tanks for each color are better than models that use a single cartridge.
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Dare to be different. OK, peripherals aren't exactly sexy, but there is some good-looking stuff out there. Noted French designer Philippe Starke designed a cool-looking, two-button optical mouse for Microsoft. Logitech's Bluetooth-enabled DiNovo Media Desktop is truly elegant looking. Belkin has come out with a nice-looking rechargeable wireless keyboard with media controls. And pretty much everything that Apple puts out looks great, including the monitors and the input devices.
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Don't forget the cables. Surprisingly, many computer peripherals, especially printers, do not come with required cables in the box. Few things are more frustrating than getting a gift you can't hook up right away. So whatever you buy, make sure you have all of the necessary cables before you leave the store.
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Don't buy a top-shelf CRT. In recent years, CRT technology has matured to the point where there is now very little difference in performance among brands. In other words, unless you buy the absolute cheapest CRT, your special someone should be happy with whatever you choose.
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Know your media formats. Whether you're buying a digital-media card reader for the shutterbug in your family or a DVD burner for little Johnny, pay attention to the media formats. For a rundown of CD/DVD media formats, check out this handy chart in CNET's burner buying guide. Don't know SD from xD? Take a look at the CNET digital camera buying guide for a list of photo storage options.
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