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ALL PHOTOS: IRIDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
Hot electronics this year:
digital cameras, powerful
new laptops, dual monitors
and more.
Hot gifts
for the holidays
Our gift-giving guide for gadget lovers
BuyingSmart
Consumer reporter
Pat Volchok gives
a behind-the-scenes
look at Costco
products and services.
Send your questions to:
buyingsmart@
costco.com
THE HOTTEST SELECTION of cutting-edge electronics in the history of Costco is now available in
warehouses and at costco.com—all at a great value.
Whew, that’s quite a statement. But it is indeed
true, which means good news for holiday gift shoppers. Costco is offering everything from the latest
iPods and big-screen TVs to cool new computers for
everyday living, entertainment and work.
There’s a downside to this electronic treasure
trove. Such selection has the potential to short-circuit the decision-making process of even the most
tech-minded. Feeling the need for inside tips, I
asked Costco’s electronics buyers for a five-words-or-less tagline best describing their holiday lineup.
What evolved were several themes of great gift
ideas—some available in the warehouses and others online at costco.com. Here’s a look.
“Cool next-generation things—now”
This season marks the launch of many new versions of digital cameras and computers with all the
“next” bells and whistles that consumers want, say
Costco’s electronics buyers, Richard Gerhardt and
Chris Day.
For example, the hottest digital cameras have
larger and brighter liquid crystal display (LCD)
screens for easier viewing. Megapixel (MP) power,
which determines print quality, is up to 12. 8, and
image stabilizers are incorporated into many cameras.
Richard suggests costco.com’s Canon EOS 30D
Digital SLR ( 8. 2 MP with 2.5-inch LCD and18-55
mm lens, #194219), Olympus EVOLT E-500 Digital
SLR ( 8 MP with 2.5-inch LCD and 17. 5-45 mm and
40-150 mm lenses, #963033) and Kodak C875 ( 8 MP
with 2.5-inch LCD and 5x optical lens, #141910). In
the warehouses, check out the Nikon D80 Digital SLR
( 10 MP with two lenses, 18-55 mm and 55-200 mm
and a convenient accessory bag, #140184).
Computers also have larger monitors and the latest technology designed for today’s high-definition
multimedia entertainment world. For monitors, the
wide-screen format— 19 inches and bigger—is the
