Considering whether to buy car with GPS

In other respects, store-bought GPS units have the edge. They can be hundreds of dollars less expensive than original-equipment systems, and they're easy to replace when newer innovation comes along. If you go for the navigation option on a new car, you're betting that GPS mapping and navigation won't advance much while the time you own it.

Q: I often come across videos online that I would like to record for later viewing. I can't find a way to do that on my Windows XP computer. Is there some inexpensive software that could do the job?

The Internet is downloadable

Not every video on the Internet is downloadable, but. Some sites block streaming content from being recorded, and others, like YouTube, make downloading from their site a crime punishable by death.

Q: I'm when all is said and done ready to dump my AT&T phone service and switch to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), now I'm confused about all the choices, including Vonage, Skype and MagicJack. Any direction on this would be greatly appreciated.

A: VoIP phone services are becoming more popular, and rightly so. Call quality is good, and they're less expensive than either traditional landlines or phone services offered by cable companies.

The VoIP services you mentioned

So let's consider the VoIP services you mentioned. Vonage connects to your wireless router, so you can use the phone even if your computer is turned off. The Vonage adapter is free. The service costs $26 a month for unlimited calls to just about anywhere in the world.

MagicJack works differently. Its adapter plugs into a USB port on your computer, so in order to use it, the computer must be turned on. That's both inconvenient and potentially costly - a computer running 24/7 can run up your electricity bill. MagicJack charges $40 for the adapter and one year of U.S. calling. An additional year is $20.

Skype is not as a matter of fact designed as a replacement for a landline. It's best for computer-to-computer phone and video calls, and for making cheap international calls from just about anywhere on a mobile phone.

One service you didn't mention is Ooma, which works like Vonage. You must buy a $200 Ooma adapter, now calls within the United States are free.

Both Vonage and Ooma offer caller ID, call-waiting and voice mail, and they both let you keep your existing phone number. Either would be a good straight replacement for a landline.

Related Topics: Compact Disc, Voice over Internet Protocol, Global Positioning System, TomTom, United States, Internet, YouTube, Universal Serial Bus