How This Genealogist Buys Technological Products and Gadgets

How to buy technology and gadgets?

Yes, I do reviews of products. Yes, I advertise products and services on my website. I am an affiliate advertiser as I've written on my disclosure page. However, I thought today I'd not try to sell you anything in this blog post. I thought I'd go over how I decide to purchase a technological product. But first? Here's what I don't do:

• I don't make a purchase of anything solely based on the product itself. [OMG. THAT is SO kewl! Must have.]
  
• I don't purchase anything just because it looks pretty or comes in a color that I prefer. [Look! It matches my purse which matches my shoes which matches my eyes. I MUST have it! It's, like, meant to be.]
  
• I don't purchase anything because it's on sale. [It's SUCH a Greeeaaat deal! Look at how much money I'm saving, hon'.]
  
• I don't purchase anything because it's not on sale. [All that stuff they just put on sale? So two-thousand-and-late.]
  
• I don't purchase anything because it's expensive. [It MUST be the best. That's WHY it's so expensive. It's the finest. Duh.]
  
• I don't purchase anything because it's cheaper. [OMG. Look at what a great deal that is!]
  
• I don't purchase anything because so-and-so purchased it. [Did YOU SEE what she had? If SHE has it, then it's gotta be good and I MUST have it.]
  
• I don't purchase anything because so-and-so said I should because they purchased it. [So-and-So said that I must have it. That it's perfect for them. Therefore it will be perfect for me. Which credit cards do you take?]

Now. To clarify, I'm only talking about technological products and gadgets. Most other stuff? Well, duh. Of course I match stuff and justify purchases left and right. Why? Because it's not that expensive, but even then I abide by my budget. Unfortunately.

But when it comes to technological products and gadgets, I have a whole other set of standards that I adhere to simply because I'm not rich. I haven't won the multi-state powerball lottery. And I don't live on my own island. In the Caribbean. With white sands and turquoise waters. [Tweeting.] If I did and had all those things, well, it'd be a different story. I'd buy whatever toy and gadget that I wanted. [Which would be all of them.]

Instead, I have to make intelligent decisions about my technology purchases. I have to weigh needs and budgets, which are usually on opposite ends. [*Big Sigh*] So, how do I do it? This is the process that I go through when trying to decide what to buy.

1. I write down what I really detest about my current product or system and what I love about it. What works? What doesn't?
   
2. I write down what I want my new product or system to be able to do now and 1-1/2-2 yrs down the road.
   
3. I look at online retail places to see what's out there, to see features that are offered.
4. I solicit opinions from others on Twitter and other social media sites. [But mostly Twitter.]
   
5. I explore online many different tech sites and forums to define terms of parts of the tech product or gadget and to explain what each one does.
   
6. I then take what I've learned and go back to retailers to start comparing prices with my wants & needs.
7. I explore tech sites, like CNET.com, to see what they're recommending, but I understand it's from a tech geek's point of view. [I just know he's comparing it to his idea of perfection.]
8. I explore retailers' customer reviews, but with the understanding that I have NO idea what these 'reviewers' background and experience is with technology. *snort*
9. Then I go back and compare some more while taking all of the above into consideration. 
10. Then I choose and buy.

In other words, I look at my needs and wants then find the correct tech product or gadget that's going to complete me.

Which is how I ended up with Umber and not an iPad. Not that I didn't want an iPad because the inner big overgrown gadget geek in me wants one, but it wasn't going to complete me. Together, Umber, my Nook, and my iPhone? They complete me. *snort*

So, when I mention, suggest, or review a product, I'm presenting it to you. I'm rarely going to say that you MUST get it. Why? Because I have no earthly idea what it's going to take to complete you. Duh. If I could do that I wouldn't be here.

I'd be on my own island.

In the Caribbean.

With white sands and turquoise waters.

Tweeting.

~Caroline

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