Alright, some of you may of already had this panic, but fear no more because Daniel will be writing some picks for you.
Alright, coming soon will be more catogories. But right now we have:
Camcorders
GPS
**CAMCORDERS**
Some things to note:
There are three main formats out there for recording video. When you go to your store to shop you will find.
- Hard Drive (HDD)
- Mini DV (Tapes)
- Mini DVD (Like a DVD, but mini)
If you are buying for someone that LOVES editing and will definatly edit the video from a vacation or what not then defiantly get him Mini DV Tapes. They can only hold about an hour of footage but they record into a standard format that all editing software supports. Even though you can shoot about 7 hours on a HDD camcorder they will most likely (JVC and SONY) use a propiratary flormat so you CANT edit the video unless you are using there software which is watered-down and lame.
Mini DVD is for someone that isn’t as technically logical and savy, each disk will cost you more and can only hold 30 minuites of video BUT the advantage is that you can take it out and pop it right into your DVD player.
Product Suggestions:
Mini DVD
Canon DC50 Mini DVD Camcorder
Mini DV
-Panasonic PVGS320
–Canon Elura 100
–Canon XL
Sony DCR-HC96
Sony Handycam DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Camcorder
HDD
–JVC Everio EMG130 (But this won’t allow ANY editing, only basic with “PowerDirector” software)
**I own that camcorder**
The whole Everio line is pretty good, but will not support any editing.
Sony HDD lines are all good as well.
**GPS*GPS**
The boom in GPS devices has sent prices crashing below $150, but before you go for the lowest-price model, consider that you can get many useful safety features if you’re willing to spend a bit more. Even budget devices offer 2D and 3D maps in various color schemes on screens measuring about 3.5 to 4.2 inches diagonally, though the screens on budget models may lack the brightness of more expensive devices, thus causing the image to wash out in sunlight. Even low-cost GPSes include millions of business listings and other points of interest. Their GPS transceivers are accurate enough to keep you on the right track, though you may find inexpensive devices are more likely to be a bit late in announcing the next turn. For an extra $50 to $150, you can buy a GPS that speaks street names–this lets you keep your eyes on the road rather than trying to read the street name on the GPS screen. Another nice feature of many models priced between $400 and $500 is the ability to stream the driving directions through your car’s stereo, which makes them much easier to hear; these devices are also likely to include media players for playing audio files and viewing images and videos via an SD slot. Some GPS devices store their maps on the SD card, which means you can’t navigate and use the media player features simultaneously. Higher-end models store their maps internally, freeing the SD slot for a card with your files on it. Other special features to look for are pedestrian mode, speed and school-zone alerts, and the ability to connect to real-time traffic alerts (this usually requires an additional monthly or one-time fee).
Piks
Magellan Maestro 4040
(I own this) And I LOVE this GPS!! My #1 in ALL areas! It has great safety features and you can find it for under $500!
Elegant and simple! Touch the screen and hear turn-by-turn directions with street names as you enjoy your driving experience virtually to any destination in the U.S. and Canada. Customize your navigation method or route to BE THERE quickly and stress-free. Sporting a sleeker design and interface, the affordable Magellan Maestro series offers drivers an accurate in-car GPS device with useful trip information, thanks to its partnership with AAA. Which means you get the whole AAA tourbook for the United States with ratings and amenities for lodging and food as well! Over 6 Million Points of Interest!
This GPS is great and is about $499
Magellan Maestro 4250
This model came out just a little bit ago and is the new model to the Maestro 4050.
Garmin nuvi 660
Answer the call to adventure with nuvi 660, a sleek navigator and travel assistant. This preloaded navigator brings a colorful widescreen display to the nuvi family and features hands-free calling, traffic alerts, an FM transmitter and more. nuvi 660 integrates Bluetooth wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial numbers with the nuvi’s touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer calls, just tap nuvi’s screen and speak directly into its built in microphone. In addition, easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone’s call history log. Don’t know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nuvi’s extensive points of interest database, including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions. nuvi 660 comes ready to go with preloaded maps and includes automatic routing, 3D or 2D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names and a fingertip touch screen interface, making navigation easy. It also supports configurable vehicle icons. nuvi 660 features a super-bright 4.3″ widescreen display for improved map viewing, POI lookup and MP3/audio book playback. This landscape display has white backlight and a touchscreen for easy use. ($699)
