Five years ago Brian Lam left Gizmodo to start up The Wirecutter where they research the crap out of tech products and make recommendations. I've had such good success with their recommendations that it's now become the default place I go when I'm getting ready to buy some bit of gear I don't have much experience with. The site has grown and added some of my favorite writers like Jacqui Cheng and Dan Frakes. They make money from the affiliate links.

The thing about The Wirecutter is that it was a good idea brilliantly executed. It was already an Internet success story but today it became even more so when the New York Times purchased The Wirecutter for $30M. Let's just hope the Grey Lady doesn't screw things up.