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Jon Snyder/Wired.com
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Yesterday was tough. Like many Americans, you may have waited until the last minute to file your 2011 taxes -- only to be surprised by paperwork that says you owe the government an arm, a leg, and an expensive assortment of internal organs.
But just because you’re broke doesn’t mean you can’t assemble a comprehensive arsenal of consumer electronics. While the rich and fabulous enjoy gadgets for the elite 1 percent, the teeming, unwashed masses can explore hardware that occupies the lowest echelons of quality, specs and features.
And make no mistake: By no means are we recommending all of the gear in this round-up. No, this is more of a research study delving into the depths of product manufacturing -- a survey of the extreme low-end gadgets that are aimed at the world's most thrifty (or undiscriminating) shoppers.
MP3 Player: Eclipse CL2BLK MP3 Player -- $11
The Eclipse looks suspiciously like an iPod shuffle. It has a clip that you can attach to your clothing or backpack, and its buttons are nearly identical to those on Apple’s compact music player. Unlike the iPod shuffle, however, this alarmingly inexpensive music player won’t connect to iTunes. But considering how buggy iTunes has been the past few years, this isn’t necessarily a problem. Via drag-and-drop file management, the Eclipse supports MP3 and WMA audio tracks. MP3 is the default file type for Amazon and Google Play, but the lack of M4A file support is a bummer. Still, considering the $11 entry fee, it’s hard to complain. The player works with Windows and OS X, so it’s already better than a Zune. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired
