Top 5 less expensive off-brand alternatives to name brand gadgets

December 8, 1:40 AMGadgets ExaminerDan Appleman

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These are all great brands, but others sometimes
offer better deals

Companies spend fortunes on building brands. A brand is cool, it’s quality, it makes you feel good about the product you bought and about yourself. But, if you’re willing to look beyond the name on the device, you can sometimes save a lot of money by buying something just as good, but without the fancy name and package.

Here are a selection of products where you can save good money by going off-brand.

World of Warcraft is the ultimate online game – positively addictive. But at a minimum of $13/month for a six month subscription (that’s $156 per year) it’s a good value but not exactly cheap. Check out RuneScape where you can have unlimited free play with substantial capability, or upgrade to full access for $5.95/month.

When you think digital cameras you probably think Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony. The GE-A735 7MP or Kodak EasyShare C813 8MP both have 3X optical zoom and decent reviews. Both can be found for under $80. Kodak is a “brand”, but often isn’t given the same respect in digital cameras as the big players. That’s a shame, because their cameras are quite good and represent a good value.

There’s one name brand that comes to mind when it comes to MP3 players, and that’s Apple. They’re beautiful and cool, and you generally pay a premium for that. Go with one of the other brands such as Creative, Sandisk and Coby, and you’ll not only save money, but often gain flexibility (such as user replaceable batteries, more flexible software or better audio format support)

Noise Cancelling Headsets are fantastic devices – especially if you fly often or work in noisy environments. They really do work. Bose is the brand with their QuietComfort 2 and QuietComfort 3 headsets, and having used them I must say they are awesome headsets. But at $300 and higher, you’re paying for the name as well as the quality. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones is highly rated with a street price under $100. If you like the in-ear style and ultra-portability (let’s face it, the other headsets are somewhat bulky for travel), the Sony Mdrnc22/Blk Noise Canceling Headphone is a decent choice.

One of the best things you can do before buying a flat panel TV is to actually look at it at the store (read “tips for buying a new digital TV”). Once there you’re sure to see the big brands: Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba. While you’re there, take a look at the LG, Sceptre and Vizio sets. If you find one you like, you’re almost sure to save off a comparable brand set.