Tips

Shopping on the Internet can be economical and convenient. Shopping on the Internet is no less safe than shopping in a store or by mail. To help ensure that your online shopping experience is a safe one:

• Know who you’re dealing with. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems.
• Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print.
• Know what it will cost. Factor shipping and handling — along with your needs and budget — into the total cost of the order.
• Pay by credit or charge card, for maximum consumer protections.
• Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates.
• Print and save records of your online transactions.

Shopping online offers lots of benefits that you won’t find shopping in a store or by mail. The Internet is always open — seven days a week, 24 hours a day — and bargains can be numerous online. With a click of a mouse, you can buy an airline ticket, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend, or purchase your favorite fashions. But sizing up your finds on the Internet is a little different from checking out items at the mall.

If you’re buying items from an online retailer or auction website, OnGuard Online offers this advice to help you make the most of your shopping experience:

• Know who you’re dealing with. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems. If you get an email or pop-up message while you’re browsing that asks for financial information, don’t reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email.
• Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition, while name-brand items with “too good to be true” prices could be counterfeits.
• Know what it will cost. Check out websites that offer price comparisons and then, compare “apples to apples.” Factor shipping and handling — along with your needs and budget — into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances.
• Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return, and/or purchase protection benefits.
• Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied? If you return it, find out who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees, and when you will receive your order. A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised.
• Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of every email you send or receive from the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and be on the lookout for unauthorized charges.
• Don’t email your financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.
• Check the privacy policy. It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use the information. If you can’t find a privacy policy — or if you can’t understand it, consider taking your business to another site that’s more consumer-friendly.

Laptop Shopping Guide

What is a Laptop?
A laptop computer (also known as notebook computer) is a small mobile personal computer, usually weighing from 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds). Computers larger than PDAs but smaller than notebooks are also sometimes called "palmtops". Laptops can easily be transported and conveniently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, schools, temporary offices, and at meetings. Laptop computers generally cost more than desktop computers with the same capabilities because they are more difficult to design and manufacture. Laptops are generally composed of a motherboard, sound card, graphic card, CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, monitor, mouse and keyword.

Why should I choose a Laptop instead of a Desktop Computer? Key features & Tips!
Depending on your usage, you may find yourself needing a more portable solution for your computing needs. If this is the case then a laptop is a must. If you are going to choose a laptop computer you must do one thing first: determine what exactly your laptop is to do.

This will help avoid unhappiness after the purchase. For instance if you are going to use your computer only for internet access and running small software programs then a notebook is for you, but if you wish to start a MP3 collection and run intensive programs then a desktop is a better match for you. One thing to remember that for laptops are 20%-40% slower than their desktop equivalents (having the same features i.e. CPU, RAM, hard disk capacity etc.) slower CPU's, motherboards, hard drives and video systems all contribute to the overall speed.

Laptops comes in a range of different prices.
You can find many discount laptops from as little as Rs.3,2000.00 to over Rs.3,00,000.00. Price ranges for laptops general depend on the manufacturers and the extras that you decide to add on. Some of the more popular manufacturers of Laptops include Dell, Apple Macintosh, HP (Hewlett Packard), Compaq, IBM, NEC, Sony and many more.

Things to look for in a laptop? Options & suggestions!
They are many available options within a laptop package. Some of the key features you should be comparing when shopping for a computer laptop are as follows: hard drive size, processor speed, screen size and resolution, weight, battery size, amount of ram memory, type of motherboard, type of sound card, type of graphic card, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD or DVD burner drive, floppy drive, zip disk drive, and warranty.

Computer Desktop Shopping Guide

Computer Desktop
A computer desktop is a personal computer made for use on a desk in an office or home and is distinguished from portable computers such as laptops or PDAs. Computers Desktop are also known as microcomputers. There are four types of computers desktop: home computers, or personal computers; workstations, Internet servers, and special communications computers.

Desktops are currently the most affordable computers and ubiquitous in businesses, schools, and households; they are used for performing office tasks, organizing digital photos, video editing, and Internet access. Nearly all desktop computers are modular, with components that can easily be replaced or upgraded.

A computer desktop is a personal computer that is designed to fit conveniently on top of a typical office desk. The computer desktop can either be in tower or flat form. Computer desktops are generally composed of a motherboard, sound card, graphic card, CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, monitor, mouse, keyword. The computer desktop may also include such extras as DVD-ROM drive, CD or DVD burner drive, a printer and a zip disk drive

Price ranges for Computer Desktops.
Offers many discount computer desktops from as little as INR 9000.00 up to and over INR 135000.00. Price ranges for all computer desktops general depend on total functions, speed and quality.

Looking for Function in a Computer Desktop.
They are many available options within a computer desktop package. Some of the key features you should be comparing when shopping for a computer desktop are as follows: hard drive size, processor speed, amount of ram memory, type of motherboard, type of sound card, type of graphic card, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD or DVD burner drive, floppy drive, and a zip disk drive.

Different about Apple Macintosh Computer Desktops?
Apple Macintosh computers run on a operating system called Mac OS X. Microsoft software products are not usually compatible with Apple software products.

Even the Macintosh's display was unique for its time. It displayed data using black letters on a white background causing the screen to resemble a sheet of paper. The standard had been white letters on black backgrounds prior to the Macintosh.

Popular manufacturers of Computer Desktops
There are many quality manufacturers of computer desktops, but some of the best selling are Dell, Apple Macintosh, HP (Hewlett Packard), Compaq, IBM, NEC and Sony.

Shopping tips

Shopping online has become more and more popular in America as we are all looking to save a little time and money. E-commerce sales are growing at astronomical numbers ranging from 20-25% per year. And according to Forrester Research, 40% of households are using coupons in their web shopping. The huge increases are obvious: the online savings and discounts are impossible to match by traditional stores constrained by the overhead costs of employees, rent, and insurance. By using some of the tips and tricks mentioned below, youll be able to take further advantage of a new American pastime: saving with online shopping!

Tip 1: Dont buy Ebay. We all know online auctions seem like such a great deal, and its easy to get caught up in the emotion of auction. Thing is, auction sites like Ebay and Ubid have become saturated with buyers AND sellers, so virtually any discount found is quickly sought by re-distributors who then add their own markups to your purchase. The online marketplace has enough people out there that you can end up spending hundreds of extra dollars for the same things found in your local mall! Dont let your emotions get involved these are not the right places for the aware shopper.

Tip 2: Never pay retail. Take this scenario: You find something you want to buy, maybe the latest craze or fad such as the Ipod. Should you really pay the price that Apple is offering? No! You can find many deals and coupons for the same purchase just by typing, for example, ipod coupons int Google. Spend a little time searching through the top ten to twenty results, youre sure to find the same product for a significant discount. Sometimes, by filling out a survey or signing up for an email list, youll get additional savings and many times you can even get your product for free!

Tip 3: Get over your instant gratification desire. Just admit it, buying something always gives you a good feeling and you cant wait to take pleasure in that new purchase. Anything youre buying at the mall for that same good feeling can usually be found for a huge discount online. You just have to be willing to wait for the short 2-5 days that it takes for shipping. Its definitely worth the savings to able to control your emotions and hold off until it arrives via UPS!

Tip 4: Watch out for excessive shipping charges. Many times retailers slash their costs to get the sale but then charge more for shipping. Make sure to check the final cost to ensure you didnt receive any unwarranted charges. You should also find a free shipping deal at any of the online coupon sites. Sometimes the shipping can cost more than your purchase!

Tip 5: Online coupons: Were you aware of online coupon websites that have discount and promotion codes to nearly all internet stores? These types of websites always have up to date discount offers arranged by category or store, so you can always find something on sale. Its not only a way to get a good deal but you can also find some of the free shipping offers listed in tip 4. Just be careful to check for a coupon code before making any internet purchase. Its a simple way to find extra savings.

Check the shipping costs.

Shipping, especially for next day delivery, could make the total purchase price more than what you would pay in a retail store. At one time, many sites offered free shipping as a way to attract customers. While those days are over except during the holidays, some sites still offer free or discounted shipping for select items and purchases over a certain amount.

Review the return and refund policies.

How can you return unwanted merchandise? How long do you have? Will you receive a full refund? Who pays for return shipping? An e-tailer should provide answers. If not, call the merchant before you buy.

Pay with plastic.

In the U.S.,credit cards offer the same consumer protection whether shopping online or offline--you are liable only for US $50 if your card is used fraudulently. You can also challenge charges and withhold payment in the event of a dispute with a merchant.

An alternative payment option, particularly for buying from auction sites, is setting up an account with PayPal. You electronically transfer money from your bank account into your PayPal account, then use it to pay merchants.

Look for coupons and other discounts.

Many online merchants offer rebates that can save you a bundle of money. To receive the discount, typically you enter the coupon code in the order form. It's then deducted from the total purchase price. Start your bargain hunting at Learn the Net Coupons.

For travelers, many airline sites offer weekly specials and e-fares. To keep informed of these discounts, sign up for newsletters at their websites.

Comparison shop.

So-called shopping bots compare prices for products across dozens of websites. You'd be amazed at the range of prices you'll find. Start with this trio:

• PriceRunner

• PriceGrabber.com

• Shopzilla

• Smarter.com

Always use a secure Internet connection when making a purchase.

Reputable sites use technologies such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or SET (Secure Electronic Transmission) that encrypt data during transmission.

You can tell if this technology is in use when the lock icon at the bottom of your web browser window is closed. (In no case should you send your credit card number by e-mail.) Another way is to check the address of the site you are accessing; it should begin with "https".

Parents More Ambivalent About Internet Use for Teens

A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that parents are more ambivalent about whether Internet access is a positive thing for their teens. The number of parents who say that using the Internet is good for their children has dropped from 67% in 2004 to 59% in 2006. In the same vein, the number of parents who don't think the Internet impacts their children one way or the other has risen from 25% in 2004 to 30% in 2006.

The study explores parent and teen attitudes towards the Internet and technology devices in general. It suggests that parents are paying close attention to the type of content their children are accessing. They are typically regulating both the time spent online, as well as the content accessed and are more aware of what their children are doing.

The Parent and Teenager Internet Use Report is available for viewing on the Pew Internet & American Life Project website.