How to Choose Combination Appliances

Combination appliances are mostly about saving space. In a small apartments, they can be a godsend. As an added bonus, they require only a single outlet. Many of them are highly energy efficient and come with the Energy Star label.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Consider a Microfridge. For a college student, this could literally serve all your food needs, except for your endless pots of coffee. A Microfridge is a refrigerator / freezer / microwave combination that reportedly uses just half the electricity of the three appliances together.
2. Look into Tiny Living. That company makes a toaster/coffee maker combination at a reasonable price. At the high end, KitchenAid makes an in-sink dishwasher.
3. If space is at a premium in your laundry room, consider a compact washer/dryer combination. You’ll never have to transfer clothes again. Thor Appliances makes one that doesn’t even require a vent. It’s less than 3-feet high and barely 2-feet deep and wide.
4. Think about a compact stereo. Many home entertainment options integrate a radio, CD player and stereo speakers. Sony makes a reliable brand.
5. Look into a television/DVD player. Not long ago the only home video players combined the worse of VHS with tube TV’s. Today, many flat screen also play DVD’s as well. Unfortunately, one of the leaders in the HD field is Toshiba, which makes a crisp LCD display, but one that is still coupled with HD DVD.
6. Shun combination Blu Ray/HD DVD players. Two Korean manufacturers, LG and Samsung thought they had found a way to handle the DVD format wars, by building machines that handle both. Within weeks after their introduction, Time Warner announced that it was committing to Blu Ray so these players make as much sense as buying a VHS/Betamax combo.
7. Watch for combination computer/televisions that will enable you to download HD movies to a hard drive and play them back, such as those on Tivo.
8. Use combination Personal Digital Assistants, PDA’s and cellular phones. I-Phone has taken it to a whole new level of sophistication, with faster data handling on the way. Be sure that you understand that the initial prices for Blackberries, Treos and similar brands are only valid if you commit to substantial monthly service plans.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do a lot of typing on your PDA/cell phone combo, buy one with an infrared port.