| Remember the good old days, when buying a digital | | | | of them even more overwhelming and confusing than |
| camera meant choosing between two or three | | | | the stores. I've been using the Internet for years, but I |
| models? That was the year 1995, and there were | | | | had difficulty finding my way around most of these |
| literally only three digital cameras which had been | | | | sites. Not only that, but there were even more digital |
| introduced for the consumer level market-the Apple | | | | cameras to choose from than in the stores! I hadn't |
| Quicktake 100, the Kodak DC40, and the Casio QV-11. | | | | thought it possible. I needed guidance...unbiased |
| Back then, it was easy to get information about each | | | | guidance in language I could understand. |
| camera and decide which would work best for you. | | | | Finally, I came across a new website called The site |
| Well, those days are definitely gone. Now, if you want | | | | promised to help me find the right product every |
| a new digital camera you'll have to sort through | | | | time-in four simple steps. After my previous |
| hundreds of different models and make countless | | | | experiences I had my doubts about this, but decided to |
| decisions, like how many megapixels you'd like your | | | | give it a shot. I was instructed first to choose the |
| camera to have, what type of media you want your | | | | category of product I was looking for - digital cameras |
| camera to store your images on, and what levels of | | | | - and then to complete a short multiple choice |
| digital and optical zoom you'll need...not easy tasks, | | | | questionnaire. I expected the questionnaire to be |
| especially if like me you're not sure what a megapixel | | | | tedious, full of terms I wouldn't understand, but it wasn't. |
| is. | | | | It was simple, and any technical terms were explained |
| I recently decided that my old film camera needed an | | | | to me in everyday language. After I completed the |
| update and made the momentous decision to buy my | | | | questionnaire, the site generated my own personal |
| first digital camera. Though I've always been one of | | | | Product Report, which listed the best products for me |
| those people who shies away from new technology, | | | | based on my questionnaire answers. The Report was |
| friends and family had been telling me for years that it | | | | easy to understand - I could see pictures of the |
| was time to go digital. According to them, the benefits | | | | products, view detailed specifications sheets, and |
| of having a digital camera far outweighed my fear of | | | | compare different products. After a few minutes of |
| high-tech gadgets. They told me that I could save a | | | | reading through my Product Report, I made a decision |
| fortune on film and developing costs, that I could view | | | | and with the click of a button, I purchased my first |
| my pictures instantly, edit them on my own computer, | | | | digital camera. |
| and print only the ones I wanted. So, I decided it was | | | | Sure it's not 1995 anymore and there are considerably |
| time to jump on the technology bandwagon and find | | | | more than three digital cameras to choose from, but |
| myself a simple little digital camera. | | | | the cameras today have amazing features we |
| Easier said than done. | | | | couldn't have even imagined back then. Don't let the |
| Several disappointing trips to the electronics stores in | | | | overwhelming selection of available models and the |
| my area left me confused and camera-less. I've never | | | | confusing technical jargon deter you from getting a |
| been intimidated by salespeople, but the electronics | | | | great new camera-or any other new high-tech gadget. |
| stores were completely overwhelming. I had no idea | | | | features a number of different product categories, |
| there were so many digital cameras on the market | | | | tech guides, and glossaries which can help you |
| today and had trouble even understanding what the | | | | understand all the terms and features. Best of all, the |
| salespeople were talking about when they pitched their | | | | site can help you to sort through the different products |
| products! Megapixels, CF, CCD, dpi, MMC...does anyone | | | | and find the ones that will suit you best - quickly and |
| know what these terms mean? Finally I decided to try | | | | easily. My new digital camera arrived a few weeks |
| my luck on the Internet, where I could at least conduct | | | | ago, and already I've almost forgotten what it was like |
| the search on my terms, without hovering salespeople, | | | | to buy film. Had I known it would be so easy to find |
| in the comfort of my own home. | | | | the perfect digital camera for me, I'd have done it a |
| I tried the big online shopping sites first, but found most | | | | long time ago. |