TIME's Guide To Shopping

By From The Editors Of TIME DIGITAL Sunday, Dec. 03, 2000

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    DELL COMPUTER This pioneer in online selling offers its full catalog of computers and accessories on its site; you can also track the status of your order from custom assembly to ship date (and through shipping for system orders) dell.com

    GATEWAY The box with the Holstein spots could be at your door in days; Gateway sells its own computers and company-approved accessories, and you can subscribe to the company's ISP, Gateway.net gateway.com

    HEWLETT-PACKARD The leader in ink-jet printers also makes computers, digital cameras and a wide array of accessories and sells them online; you can buy these items here or get help finding a local retailer hp.com

    IBM.COM Big Blue, a latecomer to direct sales, has finally joined the crowd: the world's largest computer maker is pitching desktop PCs, ready-made or built to your specs, plus a complete line of printers, servers and accessories ibm.com

    NECX DIRECT HOME & OFFICE TECHNOLOGY STORE Merchandise categories range from cables to computers to tape drives. Especially useful are how-to-buy guides on topics from CD drives to Windows 2000 that help beginners compare features necxdirect.com

    OUTPOST.COM This broad commerce site has a large computer section divided into five headings: hardware, software, software downloads, accessories and networking outpost.com

    PCCONNECTION Offers computers and related ware for the home or office, organized by product category and manufacturer pcconnection.com

    Electronics
    Everything you need to see and hear and document can be found on the Web

    ABE'S OF MAINE The name is a little misleading: Abe's is a Brooklyn, N.Y., discounter offering low prices on cameras, PDAs, portable audio equipment and many other electronic gadgets abesofmaine.com

    AUDIOGON An auction house for audiophiles. Bid on subwoofers, amplifiers, speakers and more. For those who don't like bidding, the site also has classified ads audiogon.com

    BOSE The famed speaker manufacturer offers its own high-end products, including home theaters and products designed for boats and the outdoors. The interactive Innovations section provides a great introduction to sound technology bose.com

    CAMERAWORLD.COM Digital cameras and film, camcorders and accessories, as well as a selection of DVD players and VCRs cameraworld.com

    CASIO A complete online catalog of the company's unique watches, portable TVs, cameras and musical equipment. Be sure to check out the fun, reasonably priced programmable electronic keyboards casio.com

    CNET SHOPPER Buying guides for a wide range of electronics and computer equipment help you make your selection. The site then links you to the dealers with the best prices, along with ratings of their service shopper.com

    CONTINENTALTRADE.COM Everything you would expect in home audio and video equipment, plus many extras, from watches to jukeboxes continentaltrade.com

    EBATTS.COM A great place to buy batteries for laptops, pdas, camcorders, cell phones and more. A Battery Tips guide offers an excellent introduction to the complexities of battery chemistry and also suggests a number of ways to maximize battery performance ebatts.com

    800.COM A superstore featuring audio, video, digital cameras and phones, as well as movies, games and music. See the Hot Zone for weekly specials 800.com

    GOOGLEGEAR A broad selection of electronics, including "talking" electronic dictionaries that translate one language into another googlegear.com

    HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER Unique gifts include an electronic pants presser, a glow-in-the-dark cordless phone and a white-noise machine to help you sleep hammacherschlemmer.com

    IGADGET.COM All kinds of gizmos, from the everyday, like PDAs, to the exotic don't-tell-me-why-you-want-it stuff, like voice disguisers igadget.com

    PHOTOALLEY.COM Cameras and camera equipment. See 360[Degree]views of the store's most popular products. The site also plays host to chats with noted photographers photoalley.com

    POINT.COM A great source of information about cell phones. Compare and shop for wireless phones, service plans and accessories point.com

    RITZCAMERA Sells cameras, accessories and cell phones. The site features auctions and regular sales ritzcamera.com

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