New payment services let you buy anonymously, without sacrificing the convenience of a credit card. Still other technologies help you experience noncomputer products more accurately before plunking down your hard-earned dollars. We looked at several and found that their helpfulness varied. As with many other new technologies, some kinks remain to be worked out. For example, 3D shopping sites don't work well over dial-up connections.
Shopping bots are only as good as their databases.
Still, the best of these new tools could make Web shopping more satisfying and convenient than it already is.