Scrapbooking at Craftse.com

Have Yourself a Happy Digital Holiday


(ARA) - It’s that time of year when many of us dust off the camera and get prepared to take those special holiday photos. To beat the busy season, start planning now so you can relax when the time comes and “have yourself a happy digital holiday.”

This holiday season digital cameras, photo printers, photo editing software and digital photo frames are expected to be some of the hottest items to fly off store shelves. Whether it’s for yourself or a holiday gift, there are some things you should know before making that digital purchase.

If you are considering purchasing a new digital camera for yourself or as a gift, here are some tips to remember:

* Find the right camera based on a user’s wants, needs and your budget.

Stores like CompUSA offer a wide variety of digital cameras and accessories for the seasoned professional to first-time users. The average picture-taker who just needs to “point and shoot” can find cameras as low as $79, based on features. Higher-quality cameras with larger zoom ratios and more features generally start at about $249 and higher for single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, advanced cameras with interchangeable lenses and fully manual features.  

* Look to see what features are offered.

Important digital camera features to consider are resolution/megapixels, lenses, multimedia capabilities, storage capacity and flash modes. A qualified representative at an electronics retail store will be able to demonstrate how these features work. If you need more memory you can always purchase extra memory cards, as not all cameras come with enough media to ensure plenty of storage. Memory cards are very affordable, with some available for under $10.

* Don’t forget the accessories to complement a new digital camera.

This year there are some fun things to choose from. Portable photo printers are compact mobile devices that enable picture-takers to print 4-inch by 6-inch and 5-inch by 7-inch photos while on the go and share them with family and friends. At CompUSA, portable photo printers are available for under $100. Another great tool to maximize the digital experience is photo editing software. Consider purchasing photo editing software, such as Photo Explosion, which is available for under $50 and makes it easy to edit, organize and share pictures. Another great option for the avid photographer is Scrapbooking software. Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 3.0, available for under $40 provides all the tools to create sensational scrapbooks and other unique photo projects.

With all the advancements in digital photography and the new accessories available, retailers expect to see high interest in digital imaging products.

“At CompUSA, our goal is to do more than just offer the latest technology, we want to help consumers find the best product to suit their needs and we have knowledgeable staff ready to help answer their questions,” says Paul Ewert, executive vice president and general merchandising manager of CompUSA.  

This year there is also a lot of buzz about digital photo frames that enable you to store your photos on a photo frame and, in some cases, easily import new photos from your computer or mobile phone via a wireless connection. CompUSA carries 7-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch and 15-inch digital photo frames ranging in price from $99 to $379, depending on features.

The basic 7-inch and 8-inch digital photo frames require a memory card to store photos. However, many digital photo frames now have internal memory and additional optional features such as MP3 capability and wireless connectivity. For photo lovers who want to take their precious pictures with them, there is also a Digital Key Chain Photo Frame that allows you to store up to 56 photos and carry them with you on a keychain. These are affordable gifts, available from $29 to $49.

With today’s digital photo technology there is no excuse not to take the best pictures ever and capture the memories for years to come. These products and other gift ideas are available at www.compusa.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent