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Photo illustration of electronics and accessories for the story - You bought that Xbox360 or HDTV for under the tree, but what else do you need? We tell you which accessories to get, which to skip, and how to get them for cheap. For a Savvy Shopper. (Sangjib Min, Daily Press / December 12, 2011) |
Your teenager will finally crack a smile when he opens that new Xbox 360 gaming console on Christmas morning. But does he need an extra wireless controller to play the game you bought? And will the new HDTV work with your cable box? Do you need to buy anything else for your daughter's iPhone?
Shoppers bought more than ever on Black Friday this year, and most of those dollars were spent on tech deals. But, for some of your gadgets to work, you may need to make a few additional purchases.
Here is a guide to all that you'll need — and all that you don't — to make the tech toys under your Christmas tree complete.
Gaming consoles
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles are a hot item this holiday season, with Black Friday prices hitting below $200 at some stores. But if your gift recipient wants to share his gaming fun, you'll need to purchase an extra controller.
Microsoft-branded wireless controllers cost about $40 on Amazon.com and close to $50 in stores.
Editors at PC World, a well-regarded technology website, say that off-brand controllers work just as well. The Madcatz wireless controller, for example, costs $20 at stores such as Sears. The dreamGear brand also produces less expensive wireless controllers. You can find these brands at stores like Sears, Kmart and RadioShack.
Wired controllers, which cost about $30 for the Microsoft brand, also are a less expensive accessory, and younger players may be more accepting of the older technology.
HDTVs
The biggest up-sell items for big box stores, aside from extended warranties, are the cables you will need to make your new HDTV work.
Resist the temptation to buy the necessary HDMI cable, which can cost as much as $100 in stores, from your TV salesperson. Instead, look to websites like newegg.com for a less expensive version. The difference in the preached-about quality will not be noticeable.
"We've found that the modestly priced brands sold at most consumer electronics stores for far less should work well in typical use," a Consumer Reports buying guide explains. "We've had no problems using 6-foot HDMI cables we bought online for a few dollars. Any 'high-speed' (Category 2) HDMI cable should be adequate for connecting to a TV, even for 3D. Just avoid inexpensive cables at dollar stores; those might have flimsy connectors or inadequate shielding on the cable itself."
Tablets
Amazon reported record numbers of Kindle Fire tablets flying off its virtual shelves on Black Friday, and the well-regarded iPad 2 is sure to be underneath more than a few Christmas trees this year, too.
Ron Maddox, a bargain hunter and tech wizard from York County, received his Kindle Fire in one of Amazon's first public shipments, and he reports that all is well with the new $199 tablet. The power button, however, is in a spot that requires the user to have a case, otherwise the tablet will constantly power down.
A case should take care of that problem, and though tech bloggers hype up leather versions for $40 and above, Walmart carries a selection of suitable cases for as little as $15. To protect your device, choose a case rather than a sleeve, which will not solve the power button issue when in use.
iPad cases start at $10 at Walmart.
As with the gaming console accessories, third party items work just as well and are less expensive.
Smartphones
Inquire about an iPhone case at a kiosk in the mall, and you could pay more than $15. Shop for smartphone cases and covers at stores like Five Below or online. Shoppers should not pay more than $5 or $6 for a stylish, reliable case.
