The big question that I have to answer now is what computer to buy next. So far, I have been very happy with DELL and I am inclined to go back to them. On the other hand, I am really thinking hard about getting a Tablet PC. DELL makes such a computer (the Latitude XT) but it happens to be one of the most expensive ones in the market. So, if I want a tablet, I should look elsewhere. I still haven’t decided how much money I am willing to spend either. And then there is also the Apple option. I happen to be a huge supporter of UNIX-type systems (in fact, I am mostly using a copy of SUSE, I.e., Linux, on my 700m along with Windows XP) and as such I may be willing to spend a bit more money for an OS X based computer.

I don’t have to make a decision immediately. I think I have 2-3 months before I have to go out and buy a computer. Part of the reason is because I want to save some money for the new machine but also maximize my usage of my current laptop.

How hard is it for people to spend a few dollar for a Bluetooth headset to use with their mobile phone when driving? I know everyone has a car insurance policy that will pay off the victim’s family when they eventually run over and kill some random stranger but can they live with a death on their consciousness? Especially when all it takes is a few minutes at the mall and $20 to save a live? The stupidity of some people still amazes me.

Vat19 is now selling the Charger Station which is a charging station specifically designed to help avoid the clutter of charging all your gadgets. The Charger Station can be used to charge up to 3 devices simultaneously. Its design allows you to hide the charging cords and transformers out of your sight while it comes equipped with a 5-plug surge protector to protect your gadgets from an event that is totally out of your control. It also comes in two colors, black and cherry so that you can choose the one that best fits the decor of your house. Priced at less than $50, the Charger Station can make your life a lot easier for an affordable price.

Australian Pioneer Computers has started offering their own flavor of a sub-500 portable computer, the DreamBook Light IL1. This small laptop comes with a 7-inch LCD touch screen and runs on a VIA C7-M, Ultra Low Voltage processor at 1.0GHz. For $450, you also get 1GB of RAM and a 40GB hard disk drive. There are other models in the DreamBook series that offer higher-end specs including larger screens but those cost more than $500. The laptop’s Li-Ion battery can supply power for up to 6 hours which is good if you are traveling and you need to use your computer during a long flight.

Pioneer Computers refers to the DreamBook Light IL1 as the Asus Eee PC killer on the basis that it can run Microsoft Vista other than the open source Linux-based Ubuntu (the Eee PC comes with another Linux-based OS called Xandros.) In fact, the DreamBook can be configured to boot more than one Operating Systems giving it a bit more versatility for those who like to get dirty with their computer. But the DreamBook is a bit more expensive than the Eee PC and so that might just be a crucial factor for those who are trying to decide on which super-portable computer to buy.

But, I was fortunate to come across the RC Cars Tips and Tricks blog which has helped me learn a lot about the world of RC Cars. For example, their post an Introduction to RC Cars for Beginners was very helpful in getting me started. There are many different types of RC cars that one can buy and a beginner should never buy the most expensive ones or those requiring the most maintenance to operate well. The RC Cars Tips and Tricks blog is like having access to an expert to help you enter (and stay in) the wonderful world of RC cars. It is definitely worth a look if this is a hobby that you want to pick up.

But this post is not about the camera that I bought but rather the nasty surprises that were associated with the purchase.

I set out this morning to spend no more than $150 wishing to buy a decent camera that will last me at least a couple of years. I browsed the Internet for a bit to check out the prices for such cameras and I was pleased to find many at the price range of interest to me. It turns out, however, that there are plenty of hidden costs that you have to incur when buying a digital camera that nearly double its price.

What are these costs?

First of all, for $150 the best camera you can buy is essentially the lower quality models. This means that you are buying either much older technology or a camera with such horrible specs that you might as well invest your money in acquiring photographic memory instead of this cheap pile of no name electronics. As a result, I had to set my sight to the next set of cameras that were at least $50 more expensive. The camera that I bought was actually on sale of $199.

Second, most of these cheaper or mid-price cameras don’t have any build in memory or if they do, it is hopelessly too low to hold any data, i.e., photos. In other words, you not only have to buy a camera but you also have to pay extra for a memory card with a capacity of anywhere between 512MB and 2GB. Depending on the size be prepared to pay $25 or more. I purchased a 512MB SD memory card for $27.

Third, you have to pay extra for batteries. Sure, the camera comes with a couple of AA batteries in the box but guess what. These are only good for 10-15 minutes or in other words, by the time you take a few photos and upload them to your computer, you will need new batteries. So, be prepared to pay another $20 or more for rechargeable batteries and, of course, a charger. The AC adapter for this low-range devices is an optional accessory so in other words, it’s not in the box!

To add salt to insult, the cheaper digital cameras don’t even come with a carrying case. You have to pay extra for that too. I paid an additional $10 for the cheapest carrying case in the store.

At the end of the day, I had to spent $290 for my new digital camera; the final price includes sales tax. This is almost double the $150 that I set out to pay this morning. I went to several stores and all were selling the same cameras at the same prices so it was not just me overpaying at a specific store; I did do my homework. Thankfully, the Nikon came with an automatic 2 years warranty so I did not have to pay extra for that.

I am happy with my new camera but I am a bit disappointed about the hidden costs associated with its purchase. I hope that after reading this post, you will know what to expect when you make the decision to buy a digital camera for yourself.