The Underdogs

The mass consumer market will probably have had at least one of these products already: an iPod, a Windows PC or a Nokia phone, so they tend to ignore other alternatives and patronize these stuff. This is where this post comes in. Don't get me wrong 'coz I also own all of these stuff but it isn't very wrong to deviate from them every once in a while...

IN THE SOFTWARE DEPARTMENT:
Browser
We all know Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, but do you know Opera? I've been using it in my computer ever since I've found about its existence on the mobile phone, then on the computer. It's quick, it's lightweight and it saves your last session automatically (you can turn that off though) as you click that red exit button. It's pretty convenient especially when installing browser plug-ins like Flash, etc.. In the mobile phone, it uses a pointer in its beta and is more cost-efficient for your data plans because it shrinks a website to a more mobile version and you can just magnify it. This all happens because of its special rendering engine which is fast to boot! The experience is almost comparable to Apple's Safari Mobile! Nintendo also uses this browser in the Nintendo DS and Wii but come at a price. Other iterations (mobile and computer) are free and have support for multiple platforms and phone models (almost all). The only problem I have with Opera is filling "forms" such as creating a new blog post or "about me spaces". The HTML goes haywire for reasons I don't know. This is probably a factor that made users elude this great browser.

Operating System
The ever-present operating system Windows is waning in terms of user count while Apple is once again gearing up for another Mac OS X release named Leopard. But have you ever heard of Ubuntu?

It's fast, it's downloadable, it fits into an CD (the download will be less than 700MB) and most of all, it's FREE! Since Free Open-Source Software (FOSS) is being heavily endorsed by different institutions, especially to the government, why not help advocate the movement by getting this freely distributable operating system? You can install it on your PC, Mac or even a PS3!

A con here is that Linux, where ubuntu is based, in general is strictly business or everyday surfing (sans Adobe Flash, but there's a workaround). This is probably one of the reasons why people don't really use this very flexible and formidable platform. Heck, a distribution of Linux can even fit in a 64MB flash drive and have some space left! (It's called Damn Small Linux.) For now, Ubuntu, though large after installation (4GB) is already small compared to Vista (10GB) and is the most used free Linux distribution around the world. You can download a free NEW version in tomorrow (as of this writing). You'll most probably need a download manager though.

Media Player

You probably know what the heck a program called iTunes already is. Wanna get out of that large base it has? Download.com recommends WinAmp and VLC Media Player. Personally, I recommend RealPlayer due to the built-in YouTube/web video grabbing function and its function to play most video formats (now including Flash video, of course.). For in-demand streaming web videos or pre-downloaded trailers, Quicktime is the way to go.

IN THE MP3 Player DEPARTMENT:

Ah, the ever ubiquitous iPod has now become

reversible with the term "MP3". But several so-called "iPod killers" have emerged and is competing against the giant in unfortunate futility especially since they have features that have the potential to topple Apple with these features. But as sales and the new Touch can testify, this won't be happening anytime soon. But if ever you are one to NOT be in desire of joining the hugely bloated bandwagon, other brands will gladly cater different features to you.

Microsoft's Zune can actually be a great example. You can synchronize music through

Wi-Fi and share music to other Zunes (but it has restrictions). Sadly, many people do not own Zunes due to a few reasons like the Microsoft brand itself, etc. That's why there is also another

wonder called the Sansa Clip. It features a great sound quality, huge file format support and great value in an inexpensive package to boot!

If you don't want the iPod Touch, there's also a Samsung YP-P2 tha

t offers the same thing (and more) in a similarly sexy package. No Safari though.

(PICTURE CAPTION: The Samsung YP-P2)

Cellphone

Nokia is the norm for almost everyone today, but Sony Ericsson (with Walkman phones) and Motorola (the RAZRs) are quickly catching up. Aside from them, there are other brands caught in this crossfire. Most notably, LG. It has a new 3G For All phone which is cheaper than other phones but provide the same features so anyone can experience mobile internet which claims to be at DSL speed as well as video call other people. Another commonly ignored/unknown phone brand is the Dopod which boasts of a myriad of features as a smartphone in a relatively light, cool-looking package.

Gaming Consoles

The Wii and the XBox 360 are the ones that are really racing for the title of Winner in this new generation of the console wars, therefore rendering the PS3 the underdog of this pack. I don't wholeheartedly recommend buying it since it's too rich for anyone's blood despite the many, many, many price drops and pull-outs made by Sony. Still, the tables may turn when the price point of the PS3 reaches to the very affordable scale but it has to contend with the Wii60 combination first. It does have some decent games and a few exclusives coming out next year like Final Fantasy, et al.