There's nothing quite like unboxing a computer and setting it up for the first time. With that in mind, let's revisit some of the many PCs, peripherals and gadgets I've bought new over the past several years.
Dell XPS desktop PC: This fast, sleek-looking desktop has everything I need for everyday computing: 16 gigabytes of RAM, a terabyte hard drive, an i7 quad-core processor, all kinds of USB 3.0 ports, a quiet fan and a 4-gigabyte graphics card. I bought it two years ago from Costco, which often sells loaded high-end Dells and other brands at deep discounts. I paid $800 for this one, several hundred less than what Dell was selling it for. It's run flawlessly for two years.
Dell UltraSharp 24-inch monitor: This display, which I bought on Amazon for $250, is bright, adjustable and has proven to be trouble-free.
Epson WorkForce GT-S50 scanner: I can't rave enough about this workhorse. The sheet-fed scanner runs up to 50 pages a minute in either black and white or color. The provided software is very basic, but pairing the device with third-party software such as Nuance's Power PDF Advanced provides you more choices, such as the ability to combine PDFs from multiple scans.
The scanner almost never jams and has worked flawlessly for more than four years of heavy use. It was pricey _ $450 _ and worth every penny. I imagine the newer models are just as good.
Epson EcoTank ET-4550: This printer, featuring massive refillable ink tanks, is designed to save its owner big bucks in printing costs. And it does that job admirably.
Copies look great, although color prints aren't particularly fast. A bigger downside is that I'm on my third device in a year. The first one, a demo, died quickly. The second was dead-on-arrival. The third one, about a year old, works fine. This particular model costs $500; other models start at about $300.
Brother HL-6180DW laser printer: This wireless device, capable of printing 42 pages a minute and printing on both sides of a page, produces beautiful results. The toner it uses, however, can be pricey, starting around $50 for a low-capacity cartridge, which will give you about 3,000 pages. I've never had to call tech support for the $500 printer, which I've had for more than three years.
UE Boom portable speaker: This battery-operated speaker, about the size of a can of Red Bull, lasts about 10 hours on a charge. Its sound is remarkably good, although the bass is a little anemic.
I bought it on Crutchfield, one of the very best online stores, during a closeout sale and haven't experienced any issues. The new UE Boom 2 sells for between $150 and $200.
iMac: I'm very high on Apple products, and the iMac is no exception.
The company's latest operating system, Sierra, is beautiful and functional, and the iMac comes with essential office products like the word-processing program Pages. I've had this latest iMac for 2 { trouble-free years. AppleCare tech support ($169 for three years) is stupendous, a word I almost never use.
My only complaint is the chiclet-style keyboard, which I replaced with a clicky Das Keyboard. Models range from $1,100 to $2,300.
Apple Watch: This was one of those impulsive, gotta-have buys. The device can be loaded with a variety of useful apps, but alas, I mostly use it as a ... watch.
The original Watch model costs about $269, while the faster second-generation version costs around $399. Fancy cases and bands _ some quite expensive _ are available as add-ons. No problems in the two years I've had the Watch.
iPhone 7 Plus: While this device's display isn't as wow-inducing as those of some Samsung models, it's more than good enough for these old eyes. The 7 is fast, keeps a charge longer than its predecessor and is somewhat waterproof.
If you have the iPhone 6, though, you might as well wait for the next-generation model, expected in the fall.
MacBook Air: I recently did a side-by-side comparison of the MacBook Air and a competitor, the Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 laptop. The Dell came out ahead, in both price and features. When, oh when, will Apple come out with a truly touch-screen computer?
iPad Air 2: Apple iPads can be found everywhere, from restaurants to the truck of your local meter reader. With all due respect to the memory of Steve Jobs, I hardly use mine, especially now that I have the Dell 2-in-1 laptop, whose 13.3-inch screen I prefer to the iPad's 9.7-inch display.
While I wonder why I bought it, I've had no technical issues with it so far.
Ring doorbell: This $200 gadget allows you to see _ even if you're away from home, using your cellphone _ who's at your front door. You can even talk with the person. The useful gadget works as advertised, and the device-maker's tech support is above average.
magicJackGO: For $35 (when it's on sale) and an inexpensive yearly plan, you get a thumb-drive-sized wireless device that, when attached to any home phone, allows you to make free calls within the U.S. and Canada. Two callers using the device can speak with each other from any part of the world without charge. Unfortunately, call quality can be spotty. I wouldn't use it as my primary phone line.
Das Keyboard: These expensive ($99-$170) keyboards are built to last, and I rather enjoy the weight and sound of their clicky keys. The first one I ordered was warped, but the folks at Das Keyboard quickly mailed out a replacement, which has worked perfectly for the more than two years I've owned it.
Conclusion: Believe it or not, I've only scratched the surface of all the gadgets I've recently acquired. I can only say that my "gotta have it" impulse often results in me being "glad to have it." As for my "wish I hadn't" purchases, that's simply the price I pay for being an early adopter.
