OTHER TECH

Let's suppose that you've decided on the Titan, and you're ready to buy. Google it (yes, this is now officially a verb in some dictionaries) and see who's selling it, then use Froogle to see what their prices are. Remember that youget what you pay for, and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check out online retailers at epinions.com or similar sites where stores have been ranked by their customers.

Remember that store with a really low price on the Titan? Don't be surprised to read horror stories about its poor customer service, abusive return policy, and so on. In other words, research the store almost as much as you researched the product. Or, since online purchasing can be more trouble than it's worth, you might just buy it locally at a reputable store. Ask them to match a fair online price, or at least have them deliver it and set it up for you.

The Web is the best thing that ever happened to consumers. We can communicate with other customers and learn everything about a product before we buy it. It really is empowering. Of course, that puts immense pressure on manufacturers. Gone are the days of dumping junk on unsuspecting customers. If they tried that today, the forums would go off like fire alarms and the company's reputation might never recover. Instead, companies are continuously watched by a worldwide Web of knowledgeable consumers who can see everything and share it with everyone else. On the Web, there's no place to hide.

You know what else? Web sleuthing is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. Anyone can walk into a store and put down plastic, and before the Web, that's all you could do. But the Web makes it fun to research products, lurk in forums and chatrooms, talk with other users, and track down the best bargains.

On the other hand, what the hell? A guy named Roger is dumping a used Excelsior at a garage sale. That might be a good deal.