Feb. 1--Buying electronics can be an awfully tough decision, especially in this economy where every dollar counts. With people cutting back on going out for entertainment, the entertainment around the house -- such as the television, computer and video games -- takes on added importance.

If you're in the market for "fun" toys, or are ready to start saving for some, you want to make sure you have the right ones. But when you go into stores, you're confronted with so many options.

How can you be sure you're getting your money's worth?

And did you know you can download high-definition movies from most pay-TV services that rival your local movie house for quality? Some of the pay services deliver those pay-per-views in a new format, 1080P, that matches those new fancy Blu-ray DVDs that you can rent at Blockbuster.

Today, we'll examine several popular technology options -- including computers, high speed Internet and pay-TV services -- to help guide you through the gobs of information available. That way, you can make the best choices for your home.

Satellite vs. Cable

Satellite or cable TV for your home? This is one of the oldest technology arguments out there. If you do not own an HDTV and don't plan on buying one, both services are about equal and will allow you to watch TV after the digital transition next month. But if HD is your bag, or if you think it might be soon, there are a few things you should know.

Cable advantages: "No contract, no equipment to buy" is the cable man's mantra. Time Warner Cable has superior video-on-demand services and specialized local programming from CMS and News Channel 14 that you can't get on a dish. There's also a new feature called "Start Over" that will allow viewers to restart shows already in progress so they don't miss a minute. You don't need a clear line of sight to the southwest, as with satellite, to get service. And best of all, you can bundle cable, phone and Internet for a discounted price.

Satellite advantages: The picture looks better, especially on non-HD channels (though some cable companies are starting to convert to all digital, like satellite). The selection and variety of high-def content is currently much wider on satellite. The two major satellite providers, DirecTV and DISH, offer more than 100 HD channels, and both carry the NFL Network, which you can't get on Time Warner. Overall picture quality, especially on non-HD channels, is better locally off the dish.

Knockout blow: Time Warner's equipment problems are frequently talked about on message boards, and I've experienced them myself. The HD-DVRs, particularly, can be troublesome. DISH and DirecTV equipment tends to run better and be more reliable, and the HD choices those companies provide are hard to beat. For sports fans, DirecTV also has NFL Sunday Ticket, giving you access to out-of-market NFL games. Plus, both sat-casters are starting to offer 1080p high-definition movies on pay-per-view, mimicking the sound and advanced picture quality of Blu-ray. Oh, and satellite prices are cheaper in the long run, too.

Winner: Satellite. Embrace your dish.

Wired or wireless networking?

So you've got multiple computers and everyone in the family wants to get on the Internet at the same time. You need a network. But what kind?

Wireless advantage: Portability. With the advent of Wireless-N routers, you get much faster speeds than ever before (provided your computer is new enough to have an N card built in or you've purchased an outboard card). Securing your network is pretty easy, and the measures should be enough to thwart any normal user from trying to access your network.