Unfortunately, many of those high-tech devices have a common problem: They’re prone to break easily, and no one wants to fix them. Ergo, you can find yourself on the perpetual Two Year Service Agreement from Hell with a pricey phone that seems designed to last, oh, 18 months or so.

Some folks are beginning to figure this out. Not long ago, Forbes decided to produce a list of “Cellphones Your Wallet Will Love.” They may not be particularly sexy, but you just might be able to make a call…which is really the point, right?

Many of these first were made available in developing nations, where bells and whistles weren’t given quite so high a priority. Still, the list gives you an idea of what you should actually be able to get for a reasonable price.

Here goes:

– Nokia 1200: $55

– Nokia 1680: $80

– Nokia 7070 Prism: $80

– Samsung B100: $43

– Samsung C188: $50

– Motorola W230: $50-$100

– Motorola W270: $50-$100

– Motorola W161: $50-$100

– LG Flare: $29.99

– Hop-On 1900: $20

To read all about these, and to see a slideshow, visit Forbes.

Among washing machine manufacturers, LG ranks highest in customer satisfaction for a third consecutive year, while Samsung ranks highest among clothes dryer manufacturers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Laundry Appliances Study. The study measures customer satisfaction with clothes washers and dryers based on performance in six factors: ease of use; features (such as the number of settings available and appliance capacity); performance (including energy efficiency, noise level and how well the appliance functions); styling and feel; warranty; and value.

Overall Customer Satisfaction with Clothes Washers
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

• LG — 831
• Samsung — 829
• Kenmore Elite — 819
• Bosch — 798
• Fisher & Payke — 795
• Frigidaire — 794
• GE Profile — 790
• Industry Average — 781
• Maytag — 777
• Whirlpool — 776
• Kenmore — 770
• GE Appliances — 763
• Amana — 760
• Estate — 725
• Hotpoint — 720
• Roper — 710

Overall Customer Satisfaction with Clothes Dryers
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

• Samsung — 833
• LG — 829
• Kenmore Elite — 815
• Fisher & Paykel — 803
• GE Profile — 789
• Whirlpool — 788
• Bosch — 782
• Frigidaire — 780
• Industry Average — 776
• Maytag — 773
• Kenmore — 772
• GE Appliances — 747
• Amana — 745
• Hotpoint — 733
• Estate — 726
• Roper — 703

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

In today’s wireless age, students need more than the typical school supplies. Cell phones are now on the list of necessities, and the new generation of techno-savvy students is not satisfied with having just any wireless device. Teens and young adults want the most-current, up-to-date cell phones with specific features and capabilities before they head back into the classroom.

Wirefly, the online comparison shopping site for cell phones and wireless phone plans, announced its Top 10 hottest selling “Back-to-School” cell phones for 2008:

1. AT&T LG Vu CU920 (Black, pictured) – This sleek touch-screen phone has a large display and a matte black finish, with 3G data speeds, wide-screen virtual keyboard for texting, and streaming live TV.
2. Verizon LG enV2 VX9100 (Black, Maroon) - The highly anticipated LG enV2 is slimmer and lighter than the original enV, and operates at EV-DO speeds; its large QWERTY keyboard and 2-MP camera help complete the package.
3. Sprint PCS LG Rumor (Black, Green, White, Blue) - Sprint’s LG Rumor was designed to deliver a top-notch messaging experience, and it does. A full keyboard and a built-in music player are among the features hidden inside the small shell.
4. T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8320 w/ myFaves (Titanium, Sunset Red) – The best-selling BlackBerry is available for all carriers, with internet browsing, texting, instant messaging, plus camera, music, and video.
5. AT&T Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman (Black, Pink, Grey, White, Red and Green) – The W580i is Sony’s best-selling Walkman phone, and it’s equipped to handle all of your music needs; features like Shake Control and Track ID set this phone apart from the competition.
6. Sprint PCS Palm Centro Onyx – The slimmest and best Palm ever is power-packed with Microsoft Windows applications plus high-speed internet, camera, video and music player.
7. Verizon Motorola W755 (Black Slate, Purple) – The solidly constructed Motorola W755 is housed in an elegant metallic shell with smooth touch-sensitive buttons, and supports V CAST, Bluetooth, and turn-by-turn directions.
8. AT&T BlackBerry Pearl 8110 (Red, Titanium) - As BlackBerry’s slimmest offering, the Pearl combines the power of a productivity device with the stylish look of a compact cell phone. The 8110 model adds GPS to a strong set of features.
9. T-Mobile Nokia 5310 XpressMusic (Red, Orange, Purple) – The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic is an eye-catching music phone with sleek external controls, support for 8 GB of expandable memory, and an FM radio built-in.
10. A&T LG Shine CU720 (Red, Black, Silver)- The LG Shine’s unmistakable 2.2″ mirrored QVGA display will attract attention anywhere, but its streaming TV & radio, video sharing, and 2-MP camera deliver more than just good looks.

Source: Wirefly