Low on cash? You can be rich in tech savvy
I have had only one rich friend in my lifetime. I’m talking really rich; the kind of a guy who could — and did — order an $8 million custom-built yacht from a Japanese shipyard.
He was also smart when it comes to making even more money. John graduated from Wharton with an MBA and a natural-born ability to grow the fortune he had at birth.
He was often a mentor to me. Yet the advice I’ve received from him about money has been totally useless. He once recommended, for instance, that I buy land along a beautiful river in Oregon. It would have been a fine idea if I had the millions of dollars I needed to follow through on his suggestion.
When I offer computer suggestions, I keep John in mind. I am not rich when it comes to bank accounts, but — both by inclination and vocation — I am rich when it comes to hightech gadgets and computers. But I realize that not everyone reading this is rich in technology. With that in mind, I am publishing my Second Annual Poor Folks Guide to High Tech. My hope is it will be more useful to you than John’s money advice was to me:
High-definition TV: High-definition TVs are as thin as a model and, if you shop at the highest end of the market, about as hard on the pocketbook. If you’re pinching pennies, consider a low-price brand — for instance I think Visio is a good example. That’s what I did. Here’s something to know, the 4k models that have the buzz are amazing but — from a normal viewing distance — I’m not sure you’ll notice much difference in the picture. You will notice the difference in price.
Computers: Refurbished models from major manufacturers are a little-known bargain. These are returned computers, and in some cases nothing was wrong in the first place. If there was a problem, the maker has rebuilt the machine and, in the process, paid more attention to it than those coming off the assembly line. Take a look, for instance, at www.delloutlet.com. If you prefer a new machine, then consider one at the bottom end as far as the price. For what most people do with a computer, even the least expensive brand-name computers do fine.
Digital cameras: Many entry-level models are already dirt cheap. If you want a fancy digital camera — one that looks like a 35 mm SLR, complete with all the bells and whistles — consider a used camera. I have paid as TECHNOBUDDY’S BIG Q&A much as $2,000 for a digital camera because photography is my hobby.
But check out Atlanta-based KEH (www.keh. com), where some great digital camera bodies that sold in the thousands can be purchased for prices in the hundreds.
Cellphones: I just bought a new iPhone directly from Apple. For what I paid, I could have bought a moped. Shop around some if your budget is limited. And places such as eBay often sell used smartphones. You can also save money by adjusting the plan you buy.
And services such as texting can really inflate the bill.
Shopping for computer accessories: I miss the tiny mom-and-pop computer stores where you’d get personal service and friendly advice. But mom and pop often can’t sell hard disks and memory chips for prices that compete with megastores with maze-like acres of shelves. It’s a shame. It’s also a fact. Check out prices online first. And if you can buy the item from an independent store at a reasonable price, go for it.
These are some of my ways to enjoy high tech on the cheap. But like I said, I have the handicap of owning enough electronics to equip an airliner. Write me and tell me some of your tricks for saving money on high tech. I’ll print the best ones.
Send an e-mail to tecbud@bellsouth.net and tell me how low you can go.