The current economic collapse has caught most American’s in a peculiar buying situation: you can either avoid purchasing new technology and fall behind on the technology curve, or you can purchase it and encumber yourself in more credit card debt than you could have ever imagined.

Every great tech company on the market has an excellent array of products ranging from low-priced, budget model computers and smartphones up to extravagant, fully-loaded models that will take the words out of your mouth and post them to your favorite social media websites.

If you are not sure about the type of device or computer that will fit your needs and budget the best, you need to take a look at all of the tech companies and find the best deals on their products. Every company has expensive, top-shelf merchandise. Fortunately for you, each company also has cheaper options, as well as features that make the expensive machines worth purchasing. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the major tech companies:

HP

While HP may have seen a hit a weak stride when they introduced their TouchPad, they more than made up for the tablet misadventure when they started selling the Touchpad for under $100 in the United States, driving up incredible demand for the cult-status webOS tablet. As for laptops, until recently HP had a nice run of being the #1 computer seller in the world. It’s hard to argue against sales numbers, so they must have been doing something right. One key to their success has been producing high value-for-performance machines like the 17-inch HP dv7 laptop for extremely low prices when compared to other leading manufactures.

Apple

Most people tend to shy away from Apple because of the stigma that it is the highest priced brand on the market. While their MacBook, iPad, and iPhone products do command premium prices, they are also proven machines that tend to last for a long time. Unlike machines that run on Windows and other operating systems, viruses are not prevalent on Macs. By investing a little more money into an Apple device, you will not have to spend it on anti-virus software or on hiring your local Geek Squad.

Android/Google

When purchasing a smartphone that runs on the Google-based Android OS, you can expect to pay a little bit more than you would for an iPhone. That is unless you can get by with a lower-end smartphone that delivers just basic features and performance. Most mobile carriers offer previous versions of Android phones for a lower price when you purchase a contract with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint.

Dell

Dell has generally been the standard computer company of small and large businesses alike. With tablets and mobile browsing becoming more popular with consumers across the world, Dell CEO Michael Dell is still committed to providing average customers with the best options for laptops and desktops. According to PCMag, the chairman has stepped up his commitment to making sure that his PC business is always dedicated to consumers instead of trying to drift off into tangential endeavors into new product categories.

Sony

The Sony Vaio is one of the highest performing computers on the market. Professionals in industries such as architecture, graphic design, science, and business have been using these machines instead of the standard Apple products because of the reliability and power built into Sony machines. Unfortunately they also cost quite a bit of money at most retail locations.

The soft spot for Sony is in their video game department. You can purchase a brand new PS3 for only $250. This machine not only connects you to video games, you can also browse the Internet, send email, and watch Netflix videos without the aid of a laptop. As their commercials say, “It only does everything.” If you are looking for a serious multitasking machine, the PS3 is a surefire bet.

If you are still hesitant about purchasing a computer in this down economy, try visiting each company’s website and comparing specs and prices. Also check out retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and eBay for the latest prices on all of these products. One of the best ways to save money on your technological needs is to do some heavy sleuthing.  For example, a quick search for HP “model name” + keywords such as “coupons,” “discounts,” and “deals” — you’ll find a plethora of savings available to you.