I think this is a loaded question. The question should probably be what makes the tech in question cool and why. The technology I can afford is generally only “cool” in my eyes when others say something like, “Oh, I wish I had something like that!” So, I generally try to get not only things I need/want, but also those items that would elicit that response.
When it comes to where to get this type of item, for me at least, Amazon has been a real boon. To begin with I am a Prime member, which gets me some discounts and 2 day shipping on a majority of items. Then there are the special sales, the ability to easily reorder and they usually have everything I want, although I have found some items at a lower price elsewhere.
My other source has been anything that a friend of mine recommends. He has a lot of money to burn and is constantly getting technology items for which he has no possible need. Several times he has said to me that he saw some item on sale so he bought 10,20,50 or 100 of them. He visits Home Depot and Costco every week (he pointed out to me that items at Costco that end in a price of .97 are being discontinued and usually the best price). The other day he said he found LED strip lights on sale, so he bought a few hundred of them! (he is a contractor) We ended up buying the lights – 1 bundle – they come 10 to the bundle.
