This is a little long so make sure you have a cup of coffee with you :)

1. Never buy Version 1
Yah. Never. Irrespective of how cool it's to be the first one to own one of those first titanium notebooks, or a dual screen PDA. The first versions of most products are like public beta versions, riddled with bugs or problems. Here are a few recent test cases:

1. Most of the first version iPod nano's suffered from 'screen cracking'
2. Most of the first XBOX 360's are being reported to be suffering from 'heat' strokes - "over heating"
3. The first PS/2's were recalled for shipping with faulty AC adapters
4. Add your own...

It doesn't mean all first version products are bad and some of these companies make real amazing products, but it's safer (or "cheaper") from a consumer point of view to wait for the next.

In short, the first question before you buy is "Am I the very first one's to buy this?" and if the answer is "Yes",  wait till the answer becomes "No."

2. Never buy unbranded
This definition changes from place to place, but it largely means a product that isn't from a popular brand or one you haven't heard much of in your country.

Unbranded products suffer from quality issues, little or non-existant support, and yah you can forget about sue-ing someone if it goes kaboom!  We know a few geeks who picked up cheap notebooks with names we have never heard of, only to find no-one to fix when they went kaput. Chances are that you will also not find spare parts even if the gadgets can be fixed.

Unbranded gadgets are also notorious for shipping with with drivers or software that are buggy and  never get upgraded. Even if you can track the original manufacturer chances are that they may not support you.

In short, Yes, the branded one will cost more... but at least there will be some one to give you support if it breaks.

3. Go Online. Do your home work.

This is so easy to do, but still is the one thing we tend to ignore the most when we 'lust' for that gadget. Go on the web, look for reviews of what you plan to buy, specifically with the brand and model you intend to. Go to the Website of the company that the product is from, look at their support section or forums, and find out if there are problems.

The web users can guide you to how long that metallic finish on the sleek MP3 player will last or how many times you will need to change the battery. It also is not  a bad idea to type "Productname problems" , or "Productname sucks" , or "Productname alternatives", or "Productname reviews"  into Google and see what comes up.

The Web is also great place to look for cheaper prices. So, click onto e-bay or similar sites and punch that product name into the search box. On more than one ocassion we have paid less than half for the price of a gadget, when we bought refurbished, just by spending a little time clicking.

4. Never be in an hurry
Yup. Take your time out. If it costs $200, make sure you at least give it 2 hours to think or look around before you buy. If you give yourself time, you might be able to find some nice bargains, maybe refurbished models for cheap, or even alternatives. Time can also make you think whether that real 'cool state-of-the-art  GPS' is what you need.

5. Ask thy expert
That could be a neighborhood geek, a magazine that you read or a web site. Most of these guys will probably not charge you anything, and give you some good advice. So, make sure you ask, but never ever ask the salesman at the desk. He is only programmed to 'sell' remember that.

6. Don't buy Cheap: Pay for Peanuts & You get Monkeys
Almost always. If it looks cheap, it most likely is. Oh, you all know what we are talking about; the kind of stuff your grandmother would say. Cheap products are plain cheap, and they aren't meant to last; mostly using inferior quality material that breaks at the first instance.

7. Ask all the questions.  it compatible?
List down the number of questions you have, and make sure you get answers for all of them; online or offline. Things like - Is the electronics compatible with my existing paraphernalia? What electricity system do I need - 110V/220V? Does it work with my hardware, or are there drivers for my hardware. How much does it cost to repair or get a spare part?  Make sure you are asking these questions.

8. Get an Extended Warranty. And check your current one.
Last but not the least ask for an extended warranty. It will most certainly save you money if you are paying top bucks. It's conditional however; you might want an extended warranty for a $3000 laptop but not for a $100 MP3 player, because it's cheaper to replace the MP3 player usually.

if you are buying something like a laptop, and you intend to travel out of country often, make sure you get  or can get a global warranty (unbranded alert - you are most likely not going to get one). And if you are buying  a "cool"  phone from any other place than your "home country" make sure the company will honor the warranty in your country.

Hopefully we got most of those things here, and if not we will perhaps do a Version 2. Till then, thanks for reading and we will appreciate your comments