A Microscope: This Year's Perfect Christmas Gift

The holidays are finally here. Christmas wreaths are going up in retail stores, radio stations are blaring holiday jingles and people are racing to get their holiday shopping complete. The perfect gift for anyone this Christmas: a microscope!

Choosing the right microscope can be difficult, though, so once you've decided if a compound, stereo or digital microscope is what you're looking for, here are some things to consider before making a final purchase. 

• Construction: Sturdiness is an important quality when consider a microscope. While cheaper microscopes may look better to your pocket book, they won't last very long and are bound to have mechanical issues. Spend a little more for a microscope that will last longer.
• Kid Features: If you're purchasing your child their first microscope, look at introductory scopes that include "student-proof" features like simple to use and large controls, "one-touch" spring loaded stage clips and built-in handling features that encourage proper handling.
• Warranty and After-Sales Support: Make sure you look at the warranty of the microscope you're looking to purchase. This is often overlooked and should be an important factor in your purchase decision. Likewise, purchase a microscope from a manufacturer who quality assures their products and is available to answer your questions and help you use your microscope and software one it arrives at your home. 

Once you've looked into all these things, do it to it! You're ready to get the scientist in your life a great microscope! This is sure to make for a Christmas they'll never forget.