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Christmas gift ideas for the techie on your list By Carol Kinsley
What do you get a techie who has everything? The latest and greatest gadget, of course. But rather than disappoint, you might want to check with the intended recipient on specifics. "Almost" isn't always good enough and electronics are sometimes difficult to exchange. Remember, too, some folks are die-hard Apple fans; others prefer PCs, and the two aren't always interchangeable. This article won't go into the nitty-gritty details, but if you're not technologically savvy yourself, you can find some good reviews and side-by-side comparisons in the online version of PC Magazine at www.pcmag.com. If money is no object, how about an HDTV (high definition television)? Be prepared to ask the right questions or be at the mercy of your salesperson. What screen size do you want? That will depend on either your pocketbook or the distance from your favorite chair and the screen. A good rule of thumb is a screen that's between one-sixth and one-third the distance from your viewing spot. For a sofa 6 feet from the screen, 32 inches is the smallest you'll want. Next question: LCD, LED or plasma? LCDs tend to be less expensive but LED and plasma screens offer a better picture quality. LEDs use less power, but home theater enthusiasts will prefer plasma screens. Again, make sure you're getting the right screen before you lug it home! Do you want 3D with that? Then you have to choose between active or passive. Either type requires special glasses. Active 3D generally looks better and is easier to watch from a non-perpendicular angle, but it's also more expensive and the glasses need batteries or chargers. Do some research and find out whether
Business Report | December 2012
you need cables. You may save money buying them separately if you do need them. Another expensive gift is a desktop or laptop computer. Here's where you have to be sure between Apple and PC. Apple just introduced a MacBook Pro with 13-inch Retina display that offers more than 4 million pixels at under 3.6 pounds. For more information, visit www.apple.com. A new tablet or iPad makes a nice, although expensive gift. Mark Dinardo at Delaware PC Services in Rehoboth said he'd prefer one of the new Microsoft tablets instead of an Apple product because service after the purchase is less expensive. On the subject of iPads, iPhones or the like, if your special someone already has the basic gadget, consider an accessory for it. Realtor Joe Maggio said some clients gave him a "mophie" case for his iPhone with a built-in battery back up. "It does make the phone slightly heavier, but it's really unnoticeable, and great if you're stuck somewhere without a power cord and short on juice. Just flip a side switch and your back to full charge," he said. He also noted: "There is a lot of hype over the new Samsung smartphone going to give great competition to the iPhone
this holiday. I'm even thinking about switching." Tablet accessories could include styluses, portable key pads and neoprene covers. An extra charger is convenient. Dinardo said lots of visitors to the beach area end up losing their chargers. He sells them, and other accessories, at one-third the cost that you can find them most other places. However, parts for the newest phones are not available yet. More computer-related gifts: a printer, scanner or all-in-one. Some scanners are so small they're called "magic wands" and aren't much bigger than a wand. Of course there are games available as computer software, or games for Wii, 3DS or whatever gaming system your gamer has — or wants. Surely you will have been presented a wish list! Perhaps you'd prefer to encourage reading with a Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, Barnes & Noble Nook. How about a new camera, or a projector camera. The latest models can project anything from a laptop using USB connection, making it "a traveling businessman's best friend." Finally, consider a home appliance — no, not a can opener or vacuum cleaner — a good coffee maker in a stylish design.