The annual Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las Vegas this week, where thousands of tech companies will unveil their gadgets for 2011. I'll be there to report the news from across the 3.2 million square feet of displays at the convention center.
With these product previews from manufacturers, and a review of 2010 headliners, get a good idea of when and what to buy when it comes to consumer electronics in 2011.
Netbooks and tablets: Wait
Netbook prices will drop in 2011 to under $300. Asus and Acer will dominate the netbook market with what has become the standard: 1 Ghz processors and 2 GB of storage. Don't expect innovation -- manufacturers are putting their money behind tablets. When you spot a good deal later this year, it's time to buy.
For instance, Lenovo's IdeaPad U1 Hybrid stole the show at CES 2010 with its novel 2-in-1 design. The display popped out of the laptop casing and could be used as a standalone tablet. Lenovo officials said the hybrid would be released "soon."
In May, Lenovo announced it had scrapped the Hybrid. The tablet half of the Hybrid re-emerged in September as LePad, with Android's newest operating system, 3.0, code named "Honeycomb."
But don't hold your breath for Honeycomb tablets from Lenovo or anyone else.
Google has announced it has delayed the release of Honeycomb, which has put Android-based tablet manufacturers behind schedule. Honeycomb tablets probably won't be available until April at the earliest, when they would be eclipsed by Apple's anticipated release of the second generation iPad.
The iPad 2 is being assembled for shipment within the next two months from China, according to reports from Taiwan. A preview won't be available at the show. Apple doesn't "do" CES, but a late-January unveiling is expected, with sales in April.
If you're in the market for an iPad, wait until spring. The iPad 2 will have a second camera and may sport a faster processor. And best of all, it should be priced to match current models.
While the Honeycomb delay will hamper the availability of Android tablets -- and I wouldn't recommend buying one without the new 3.0 system -- two big names are ready to enter the tablet fray.
BlackBerry is expected to have its new tablet available for hands-on use at CES. The PlayBook features a new operating system, which may be a preview of what's to come for BlackBerry phones later in 2011.
Hewlett-Packard may also have its consumer tablet ready for CES, which the company has been working on since it purchased Palm in July for $1.2 billion. HP's tablet will use the Palm webOS platform and has said its tablets will be available for sale in the first few months of 2011.
Smartphones: Buy an Android, wait for an Apple
It was the year of Androids, and the best Android phone was saved for last. On Dec. 6, Google unveiled Nexus S, which is the first Android phone to run on Android 2.3, aka "Gingerbread," and offered several new features.
It may be months before older Android models receive the 2.3 update, so for now, Nexus S is the only future-proof Android choice.
Apple's iPhone 4 is thriving despite problems with "Antennagate" following its June launch.
In November, Apple overtook Research in Motion, the manufacturer of BlackBerry phones, to become the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of cell phones, behind Nokia, Samsung and LG.
Rumors of a Verizon iPhone (and more recently, a Verizon iPad) have gained credence, but still no confirmation from Apple or Verizon. Analysts predict a Verizon iPhone could double iPhone sales.
The next generation iPhone is expected in June with a larger 3.7-inch screen, faster processor and a new antenna.
If you think you'd like an iPhone 5 and you are an AT&T account holder, do not purchase a new phone or in any other way reset your AT&T contract between now and June, because you won't be eligible for the discounted price. All older iPhone owners were eligible for a discounted iPhone 4 if their contracts ran out in 2010. If not, full price.
e-Readers: Buy
The Skiff and the QUE e-readers made headlines at last year's CES, but never made it to the shelves. Amazon's third-generation Kindle remains in the top spot in the e-reader market. Barnes & Noble's Nook was released in a pricier full-color version in time for the holidays. Both devices are attractively priced compared to tablets and are available with free Wi-Fi for life and easy-on-the-eyes e-ink technology.
Color e-ink devices are under development, but are at least a year off. No significant improvements are expected in the next year and prices are unlikely to fall much lower, so it's fine to buy.
Ogden-based TopTenREVIEWS.com guides consumers by comparing products in the world of technology, including electronics, software and Web services. Have a question for TopTenREVIEWS? E-mail Leslie Meredith at lesliemeredith@technewsdaily.com.
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