Compact Cameras and Digital SLRs

With summer holidays still right around the corner, digital cameras remain among the most viewed products on alaTest, but surprisingly, the list isn’t quite the same.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 – The FinePix X10 is the perfect camera for those who love the retro look and feel of the FinePix X100 but want something a bit less expensive. It lacks quite a few of the features found with its pricier sibling, but it still performs well against similarly priced enthusiast compact camera models, like the PowerShot G12.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i – Canon’s EOS Rebel T3i made our top 10 list last month, and it will likely be there next month as well. Overall, it is bested in the SLR category by the Sony Alpha NEX-7, but it still manages to keep a leg up on the NEX-5N, its closest competitor.

Canon PowerShot S100 – It seems that the PowerShot S100 has bumped the Sony DSC-HX9V from the top 10 list this month. It’s very compact, yet still extremely feature packed, making it a great choice for the slightly more advanced photographer; however, it’s not so advanced that a novice wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Laptops

HDTVs mysteriously vanished from our top 10 list this month and have been replaced by notebooks. We suspect it likely has to do with graduation season, since laptops are a very popular graduation gift.

Asus Zenbook UX31 – For those who appreciate the style and practicality of Apple’s MacBook Air but doesn’t much care for the “Apple Tax” that comes with it; the Zenbook is an excellent alternative. It has the same style and performance all in a super thin package while costing a fraction of the price.

HP Pavilion DV7 – The Pavilion DV7 has been a top choice for those looking for a great all-around value in a laptop. It also comes in a variety of configurations, so it is possible to customize it to your needs.

HP Pavilion DV6 – The Pavilion DV6 is simply the DV7’s smaller brother, sporting the same great value and customizability but featuring a 15.6-inch display as opposed to the DV7’s 17.3-inch.

Smartphones

There were a handful of smartphones on our list last month, and there likely will be for months to come since they compose one of the fastest growing markets in technology for the time being. Interestingly, they’re all Android devices once again.

Samsung Galaxy Ace – At slightly more than a year old, the Galaxy Ace is a somewhat aged device, but it’s also one of the best valued off-contract smartphones on the market, often available new for less than $200.

Samsung Galaxy S II – The Galaxy S II is another slightly older device, but still features top-notch specs (and still a top ranked product on alaTest). Its popularity this month is likely due to the upcoming release of the Galaxy S III and people hoping to score a second hand S2 at a reduced price.

Samsung Galaxy GIO – The GIO is another one of those great value smartphones on the market. Like the Ace, it’s on the older side and certainly isn’t the fastest device out there, but its price might make you willing to overlook all of that.

Most people will fall into one of three printer categories: the document printer, the photo printer, and the office All-in-One. There is, of course, a bit of overlap in each category, but we’ll let you know just what will work best for your needs.

Document Printers

If all you’re looking to do is print documents, such as for work or school, you really don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new printer. Low-cost printing is the goal here, and there are a few things to look out for, most specifically, replacement ink costs.

The HP DeskJet 1000 – The DeskJet 1000 is not only an affordable printer, but its black and tri-color ink cartridges are affordable as well – something uncommon for inkjet printers. It’s nothing fancy, only printing about 16ppm (pages per minute), but it gets the job done.

For those printing in a bit higher volume, you may want to consider a laser printer. Toner cartridges used by laser printers generally last much longer than their inkjet counterparts, significantly lowering the cost per page.

The Samsung ML-1665 – The ML-1665 is a great place to start for an affordable laser printer. You only get black and white printing, but cost savings is worth it if you expect to print a lot.

Photo Printers

For people who like to print their own photos, it’s important to focus on print quality. Print resolution, given in DPI (Dots per Inch) is important, but one of the best things you can do is check how many color cartridges the printer uses. If it uses a single tri-color cartridge, it’s likely not worth it. Five color cartridges is a good start (commercial grade photo printers use upwards of 8).

Canon Pixma MG5350 – The Pixma MG5350 is quite possibly the best valued printer on the market, and is certainly the best choice for the avid home photo printer on a budget. Print quality is excellent, and it even includes additional features like built-in WiFi and a scanner.

Office All-in-Ones

In an office environment, scanning can be just as important as printing, and that’s where All-in-One printers come in handy. Most printers these days actually fall into the All-in-One category, so there is a huge range to choose from.

Canon Pixma MX885 – The Pixma MX885 (and really most of the Pixma MX line) makes for an excellent office All-in-One at a very affordable price. Its print quality is quite good, and it is also capable of duplex printing (aka automatic printing on both sides of the paper). It’s full of useful features that make it a great office printer.

While the examples we’ve given are great choices, there are plenty of other excellent printers out there. Check out our top ranked printers to get a feel for which might be right for your needs.