buying

I get it. Portable navigation devices (PNDs) are a bit archaic at this point. In a world where every smartphone and tablet has some sort of GPS receiver built into it and most cars offer some sort of navigation option, buying a standalone GPS navigator seems both superfluous and archaic.

Yet, the PND market is far from dead. There are still a number of good reasons to choose a standalone GPS device. So if you're interested, here are our top picks.

The Garmin Nuvi 3490 is the flagship of Garmin's line of GPS navigators, … Read more

There was a time not so long ago when MP3 players were a hot and essential technology and Apple's best-selling product was the iPod. Now with smartphones and tablets, though, there are many other devices that make great music players. But even if the MP3 player's best days are waning, there are still a number of great products available. Here are our top picks.

Apple's iPod Touch has been CNET's top-rated MP3 player for five years running. With a base model that starts at $199, it is not an inexpensive product, but the breadth … Read more

The iPad we know and love seemed to vanish yesterday.

Call it the featherweight KO'ing the heavyweight. On the first day of sales, the 312-gram Mini knocked the 652-gram fourth-generation iPad into quick obscurity.

I knew there was a problem when I had to explain to people asking me about the iPad Mini that there was also this thing called the gen 4 (gen 3.5 may actually be more accurate) iPad.

And some stores weren't exactly aware of the new iPad either. A sales rep at a certain large U.S. retail store (which will go unnamed) … Read more

Apple has unleashed a ton of new iOS devices this holiday season: no fewer than four new products, covering an entire range of sizes and uses. iPhone 5, fifth-gen iPod Touch, fourth-gen iPad with Retina Display, and, of course, the iPad Mini: these join other devices still sold by Apple including the fourth-gen iPod Touch, iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S.

Confusing, right? For the purposes of this article (and your sanity), I'm limiting the buying-guide analysis to the non-phone iOS gadgets: the iPods and iPads. It used to be that there was a huge gap between the 3.5-inch Touch and the 9.7-inch iPad. Now there's a spectrum: 4 inches, 7.9 inches, and 9.7 inches.

So, let's look at each one, starting with the newest.… Read more

If you own a desktop computer, you'll need a monitor. The best overall monitor right now is the Dell UltraSharp U2713HM. It delivers fantastic performance on an extreme definition (2,560x1,440-pixel), 27-inch screen, with great ergonomic options, and a useful assortment of connections at $800. If that number sounds too rich for your blood, the Asus PA248Q sells for as low as $310, with a 24-inch 1,920x1,200-pixel screen, ergonomic options, each major video connection, and unique and useful customization settings. Finally, if money is no object and owning the absolute best performer is a priority, the … Read more

Looking to build your home network? If money is not an issue, check out the cutting-edge, non-compromising Netgear R6300, or the Asus RT-AC66U. They offer the latest, superfast 802.11ac (aka 5G Wi-Fi) support, long range, two USB ports, and a boatload of features. If you want the biggest bang for your buck, however, the Asus-RT56U is definitely one to consider; this little true dual-band N600 router packs way more punch than its physical size would indicate, both in terms of range and performance. On a tight budget? Something like the D-Link DIR-605L will serve you right; it'll make … Read more

In the market for a tablet? Your first choice should be the iPad (4th generation). It has the best performance, the deepest software catalog, and a fantastic ecosystem supporting access to an incredible number of apps, games, music, and video. However, if you like the idea of a high-performing tablet, but you're not one for adding more cash to Apple's already substantial coffers, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 might be up your alley. With its beautiful screen, overclocked 1.7GHz Tegra 3 CPU, storage expansion slot, and Micro-HDMI, it succeeds in offering a viable 10-inch alternative to … Read more

Great-sounding headphones have never been more affordable. Even the least expensive headphone model on this list, the Panasonic RP HJE 355 in-ear, has oodles of detail and decent bass punch. For me the most important thing when evaluating headphones is sound balance; no frequency range should call attention to itself, so I don't like overly bassy headphones, or ones that overemphasize treble. Headphones should sound clear, not muffled or fuzzy. I prefer spacious stereo imaging over sound that's stuck inside my head. Headphones that allow music's soft-to-loud dynamics to bloom are better than ones that constrict dynamics. … Read more

Shares of Best Buy declined in after-hours trading after the electronics retailer announced a management shake-up and issued a warning about its upcoming third-quarter results.

Best Buy announced today that two executives, including its U.S. president, would be leaving the company as part of a restructuring effort. U.S. business President Mike Vitelli will retire at the end of the current fiscal year in February 2013, while Tim Sheehan, executive vice president of U.S. operations, will leave the company at the end of the month.

Best Buy also warned that its net income for the third quarter will … Read more