General Home Electronics

Below are shopping guides for some of the most basic home electronics. Whether you're moving into a new place, shopping for a housewarming gift, or simply updating your current home, we can help. We've collected information, opinions, and reviews to make your shopping experience faster, easier, and a whole lot more pleasant. Can't find what you're looking for? Feel free to start an article yourself! We'd love for you to share with us.

Answering Machines An absolute necessity today. Check for multiple mailboxes and remote message retrieval, if you're the busy/multitasker type. If you're buying a phone as well, check for phone/answering machine combinations. You should only have one machine per household, so make sure it's something you can work with.	Cordless Phones If you're young or active, you should have at least one of these. Large households may want several. Enables you to get the mail while you talk on the phone. Check for battery life and reception range. If you have limited mobility, you may want a landline, which is less expensive and provides the best reception.	Caller ID Boxes Not a necessity, but an increasingly popular convenience. You'll want one of these if you work from home, work in a highly specialized and private field (healthcare, law, government), or if you're avoiding your mother in law. Many phones come with these built in, so you don't necessarily need to purchase it separately.	VoIP Stands for Voice-Over-Internet Protocol. Enables a person to make phone calls over the internet rather than phone lines. Doesn't have the best reception or service, but is a really good way to stay in touch with travellers. This can be used across countries and continents, where traditional phone calls can get very expensive.

Electronic Dictionaries and Translators These can be incredibly helpful for travellers. There is a wide range in quality for these products. You can buy a moderately priced e-dictionary with english and spanish for a trip abroad. Conversely, a globe-trotter can invest in a high quality product with any number of languages available.	Weather Stations This may sound silly, but once you've got one of these you'll swear by it. Home weather stations are relatively inexpensive. Generally, they will tell you the temperature (inside and outside), humidity, date, time, pressure, rainfall, and just about anything else. These are incredibly convenient and surprisingly accurate.	Digital Picture Frames Not for families with small children! These can be pricey so be sure to put it where it won't be knocked over. These make an excellent gift, work as a conversation peice, and spiff up any office desk or mantel. Best for people that take frequent pictures. The more you have, the more interesting the slideshow is.	Table Radios The handheld radio may be losing to the ipod, but table radios are still quite popular (and useful). Table radios are basically better, sleeker versions of the classic radio we grew up with. These can be used with satellite radio, for more options, better sound quality, and fewer interruptions.