Gadgets and Gizmos
Demystifying Technical Talk - What to Know Before Buying
By
Nov 4, 2006, 23:25

(NC)-Pixel. Megabyte. Blu-ray. Bluetooth. Optical Zoom - Today's tech talk requires an entirely new dictionary. Store shelves and on-line shopping portals are swarming with an overwhelming selection of technical products that boast features and tricks that are foreign to many Canadian shoppers.

Deciphering what each product does and then buying and operating the right product can be a daunting task. Whether choosing a gift for family or friends, or updating equipment for a home office or cottage living room, tech talk can be scary and confusing and can lead to the wrong purchase decision.

Following are a few definitions that will help demystify technology lingo and improve overall product understanding before and after the box is opened.

Resolution: Often used to describe television screens, resolution is the number of pixels in an image. The more pixels present, the higher the quality of the image.

Megapixel: A digital camera feature, the higher number of megapixels a camera offers, the greater quality photos it will produce.

Optical Zoom: A common camera term, optical zoom is a physically moving lens that magnifies or reduces the subject.

Bytes: The amount of memory a computer contains or the size of a file. Common terms include gigabyte (largest), megabyte (medium) and kilobyte (smallest).

High Definition: Used in reference to televisions, the minimum requirement for High Definition is 720 resolution. Today's maximum HD TV now offers 1080 x 1920, the definition of perfect HD.

Standard Definition: A basic term, standard definition offers a resolution of 720 and lower, a level considered on the low end of picture quality.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Flat-panel display, high definition television that is available in rear projection and full flat-screen.

Get to know technology and purchase with confidence.

More information is available online at www.sonystyle.ca.

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