Buying a new piece of electronics can be exciting – it’s an opportunity to explore new features and update your home. But sometimes it's daunting, particularly when there is a wide range of options. And now for those who don’t already have TV sets that can show digital broadcasts, we have to convert or buy new ones. As of February 17, 2009, all analog signals will cease from television stations across the nation, so we all have to get on board with digital technology (either via a converter or a new TV) in order to keep watching our favorite network TV shows.

Buying a new TV should be easy, right?

Yes, buying a new TV is easy if you know what equipment you need. A typical electronics store will offer four types: flat panel, projection, tube and front projection/screen systems. Most people will want one of the first three. Projection TVs look like flat panel displays, but they are deeper in back, so for people who already have cases for their televisions or who are not mounting their sets to the wall, these are a better deal. If you need a set that's as thin as possible, flat panel is the only option.  read more »

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If you are one of the millions of Americans who receives television signals via an antenna, rather than through cable or satellite service, you need to prepare for the dawn of the digital age.

Beginning February 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast stations will cease analog broadcasts and only be viewable through a digital tuner.

How do I know if my television has a digital tuner?

If you purchased your television after May 2007, your set is likely equipped with a digital tuner or your provider would have been required to let you know you would need a converter box.

If you are unsure if your set is equipped with a digital tuner, you can check the owner's manual or your manufacturer's Web site. You can also look for an input connection labeled "digital input" or "ATSC."  read more »

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Hurricane Gustav chased an estimated two million people from their homes. Fires in Southern California and Yosemite Park areas destroyed thousands of acres and burnt hundreds of homes. Floods in the Midwest swept into homes despite residents’ best efforts. Every day natural disasters take their financial and emotional toll.

In Katrina’s Path
Donna Wilsker, a long-time scrapbooker and resident of Beaumont, TX, was partially prepared when Katrina sent her and her husband, Ira, to their daughter’s home in Houston two years ago. They fled the area with as many of their valuables as they could fit in their Honda Accord, including her scrapbooks and a stack of 20 CD’s, containing the family’s complete digital photo collection.  read more »

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In the last article, I explained what online photo sites can do for you, and why you might want to use them. It's time now to get down to business: choosing the one that's right for you. What specific features should you look for? And which are most appropriate for your personal level of technical sophistication?

By and large, every one of the online photo sites accomplishes the same goal. Each lets you upload a collection of digital photos, and they make it easy (or at least it's supposed to be easy) to share them with other people. They also let you (that is, encourage you) to order prints of your photographs, and perhaps other customized items.

But, naturally, few sites stop there. Each site has its own unique features to make you choose that company instead of one of the other dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- available. Sometimes, the "extras" are the special attention they invest in making the process easy for computing novices, or maybe they're fancy tools to add bubbles or comic-book style captions to the photos. Other times, the site has unique capabilities to link your photos to other sites and to help you participate in a public community.  read more »

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