Questions about
electronics or computers
you purchased at
Costco? Email them to:
connection@costco.com.
Or mail to:
Q&A with Marc Saltzman
The Costco Connection
P.O. Box 34088
Seattle, WA 98124-1088
or fax to: (425) 313-6718.
Please include
“Marc Saltzman Q&A”
in the subject line. Marc
will answer selected ques-
tions in this column. We
regret that unpublished
questions cannot be
answered individually.
Ask Marc
Saltzman
Marc Saltzman,
a leading high-tech
reporter, contributes
to more than three
dozen prominent
publications, appears
on radio and TV, and is
the author of 15 books.
He’s on Twitter at
@marc_saltzman
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Q: We need a video camera to document our
activities this summer. I’d like a good camera
with a good video camera. My husband
wants to get one of those GoPro cameras.
What do you think?
A: GoPro cameras are great for capturing hands-free action—you can mount them on a helmet or
something else to film activities such as skiing down
a hill or cycling—and the quality is exceptional. But
they’re not really ideal for shooting everyday things,
such as a child’s birthday. They’re not that comfortable to hold compared with a conventional cam-corder, plus there’s no screen to see what you’re
shooting (though the latest version lets you see what
you’re recording via a smartphone).
If you also need a good still camera, I’d recommend an inter-changeable-lens camera—from
the likes of Nikon, Canon or
Sony—as it can also shoot
HD video. If you want better
zoom for filming events
such as a kid’s soccer game
from the stands, go for one
of the more traditional HD
camcorders you hold in your
hand as if you’re throwing a
football (but much smaller).
Q: I’ve heard about using my smart-
phone with my home phone system via
Bluetooth. Can you explain?
A: Bluetooth connectivity is an exciting innovation
for cordless phones. Bluetooth-enabled cordless
phones, sometimes referred to as “Link to Cell” or
“Connect to Cell” phones, can wirelessly connect
with your mobile phone when you walk in the door.
Then, when a call comes in, all your cordless phones
will ring.
So now you don’t have to race through your
home to answer your ringing smartphone. You can
leave it in the room where you get the strongest
reception, and perhaps keep it plugged in so it’s
charged and ready to go. When you make a call, you
The
Costco
Connection
Costco carries a variety of
cameras, camcorders and acces-
sories in the warehouses and online
at Costco.com. A full suite of photo
services are available through
the Costco Photo Centers. You’ll
also find Bluetooth-enabled
home phone systems
at Costco.
can choose whether you want
to use your landline number
or your mobile one.
Actually, it’s no secret
many people have canceled
their home phone service in
favor of being reached with
just one mobile number. Even if
you no longer have home phone
service, you can still benefit
from these Bluetooth-enabled
cordless phones—it doesn’t matter
whether you have a landline
account or not.
Some models are sold in sets of
four or five in a box, and are
expandable to up to eight hand-
sets you can spread throughout
your home. Also, a battery back-
up feature is good to look for
in this type of system, as the
phones can still operate in the
event of a power outage (just
like a mobile phone).
Other features include support for two different mobile
phones (perhaps yours and a
spouse or partner’s), with separate
ringtones and simultaneous talk with
two smartphones on some models. Your
mobile phone’s address book can transfer to
your cordless phone’s built-in directory, and cordless phones are also a lot more comfortable to hold
than a smartphone.
Some of these phones not only offer talking
caller ID—announcing the name or number of
who’s calling you—but also a talking text alert feature, in which the name or number of the person
texting you is announced by your handset.
Q: I recently upgraded my Nikon at Costco. I
tried to use the self-timer feature, and I can-
not figure it out. Can you help?
A: Since you purchased your camera from Costco,
the best place to get an answer to a question like this
is Costco Concierge, Costco’s free tech-support service. You get access to this service when you purchase many electronics at Costco. The service can
help with questions that arise while using cameras
and other equipment, as well as setup questions.
The toll-free number is 1-866-861-0450. C
; TECHconnection
More in archives
On Costco.com, enter “Connection”;
at Online Edition, search
“Tech Connection.”
Summer scenes
Options for capturing
all the action