OK, another Christmas is coming and now, you’ve got to read another gift guide from some outspoken computer geek. How many of these quasi hardware advertorial essays can you handle?
It’s true: There is no shortage of guys like me telling you what to buy around Christmas. Nearly all the time, the advice is the same as most ideas focus around music devices or mobile phones, the latest laptop or game console and the newest, coolest mouse on the planet. So before we get into that, let’s remember some very important points that should trump all of your buying decisions.
First: It’s the software – not the hardware – that is important. So if you are buying a peripheral like a mouse or keyboard, always consider where it is going to be running and what type of built in software the PC contains. For example, if you are buying a new Bluetooth mouse, make sure the PC you will use it on actually Bluetooth capable. Also, there are still some device driver issues with Microsoft’s Vista and older equipment – meaning if you see something on sale for a smoker of a price, there is a chance it can only run on Dad’s older Windows XP model and not on the slick new Vista notebook he just purchased.
Second, make sure the recipient is actually going to use the gift and that it is, in fact, practical. For example, I love the Stiletto 2 Portable Satellite radio from SIRIUS. Great satellite or Wi-Fi reception; over 100 channels to pick from in Canada (I LOVE the Elvis station) and you can record 100 hours of the tunes you hear simply by pressing a button when the song comes on. It has a power adapter for the cigarette lighter in your car and sound is played through your radio speakers. The satellite reception is pulled down from an antenna that hangs out your car window or door and attaches by a magnet to the roof of the car.
While all this is fine, consider that all the wires are a bit messy and if the recipient of the gift is a neat-car-freak, chances are it will only see the inside of the vehicle once or twice.
Same thing applies to something like Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 ($150) – a great little mapping application that comes with a GPS Locator and an MSN Direct Receiver and uses Connected Services, a solid travel and map software. Besides telling you, um where to go, you can get local traffic updates and local gas prices, too. It connects to your laptop and includes an ultra-compact GPS device with SiRFstar III technology and a USB cable that can be used either with or without the MSN Direct Receiver. The package includes a one year subscription to MSN Direct for traffic updates and gas prices without an Internet Connection as it receives the updates via your FM radio.
So – be practical.
For instance, if you’re like me and travel a lot, you will appreciate anything that improves battery life. For your mobile phone or iPod, check out the Energizer's Energi To Go line of products. These excellent stocking stuffers are powered by Energizer e2 Lithium batteries that provide near-immediate power for your dead mobile phone with the Instant Cell Phone Charger. The Portable Power for iPod ($24+) will fully charge your iPod in a couple of hours and provide over 30 hours of audio playback on an 80GB iPod and over 40 hours on an iPod nano.
Speaking of iPods, you will rarely lose by getting anybody one of these; right from the iPod nano (inexpensive/small) to the new iPod touch (expensive/cool). So dominant is the Apple stranglehold on this market is they have become the defacto standard for listening to music.
Speaking of music, with the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-5W ($175) you can listen to your phone's audio files, and make Bluetooth calls on the handy speakerphone; all with pretty good stereo sound. For $100 you can pick up the perfect stocking stuffer for the safety conscious driver who likes to yak on her mobile phone with the Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-301. The tastefully looking headset sports changeable covers (three are included in the pack) to match your mood. Available in both dark and light, the best part is how comfortable they are.
Now we can’t leave Dad out of the equation as he will be fairly bored with all the time off he gets during Christmas. So, keep him busy by buying him a Microsoft Windows Home Server and have him connect all the PCs and Xbox units in the house and instruct him to share everybody’s digital music and photo files. Windows Home Server has a nightly backup routine for itself and attached PCs and allows you to remotely access it over the ‘Net while you’re not at home.
So far, it appears the best way to get Home Server is to buy it from a big box firm like Best Buy and have it preinstalled on a new kick ass box such as HP’s Media Smart Server. Count on spending close around $3K for the server, software and related items such as a switch and a better router.
Source: http://technology.canoe.ca/Columnists/Michetti/2007/12/12/4720689.html
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