It is that time of year again! Are you in the Holiday mood yet? If you're not, you should check out Elfyourself.com. This site sponsored by OfficeMax lets you create your own customized video with your favorite family or friends as the star. Here's one I created with my buddies at Oceanic.
As usual I have suggestions on what to get your favorite techie persons? Or for that matter, what can you get someone who is not a techie but wants to play with all this neat new electronic toys?
First on my list are some “new” goodies from Apple. Everyone knows about the iPhone but that’s probably not something you would buy them unless they are in your family plan.
However, a device sharing the same elegant style and usability is the Apple iTouch. Starting at $229, it is not toy by any means but it is the outstanding handheld mobile Internet device right now.
If that is not in your price range, the new iPod Nano is a wonderful gift for those who love to listen to music and watch video even while on the move. Starting at $149 they come in a rainbow of colors and two memory sizes. Lastly, I wanted to mention the One to One personal training at the Apple Stores. You get a “hour” weekly lesson with a Certified Apple Genius and it can be customize to help you with anything you may want to do with your Apple products. Apple has made it easier to learn and has taken away the excuse of “There isn’t any to teach me how to use a computer.” For $99year get a one-year membership to the One to One program.
Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board: When Nintendo came out last year with the Wii game console, it changed the industry. No longer was there the battle of who had the best HD graphics or built in BluRay player. The Wii’s innovated motion sensitive controllers got the player into the action of the game. You had to swing your arms to play the tennis, golf and bowling games. This year, Nintendo added in your legs into the game with the Wii Fit Balance Board. This small rectangle board senses the weight your feet puts on the board so it can tell if you are leaning to left/right or forward/backwards. It comes with a set of games which are in the categories of: Yoga, Strength, Aerobics and Balance. This game list for about $190 but because it is in short supply like the Wii console was last year, you may need to pay a premium to get one.
One of my favorite stores for techie toys is ThinkGeek. It is filled with things that would fascinate your techie to no end. Here are some of my picks:
If you don’t want to fight for parking in the malls then you should shop on-line. My favorite place to do that is at Amazon. With thousands of items at Amazon, there is something for everyone. Just use the search function and it will help locate what you want. Amazon is also very clever in suggesting alternatives or additional items that are related to what you have looked at on their site. Another reason why I love Amazon is that they have one of best shipping prices to Hawaii. Many other vendors don’t include Hawaii in their pricing, so be careful when you ordering.
One of the best bluetooth headset for your cell phone is the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. This new device adds in the best noise canceling capability out in the market today. It electronically filters out the background noise by keying in on your voice alone. Check out their website demo. It’s a little pricy at $129 but if your techie uses their phone in noisy areas, this will be a most welcome gift. Thanks to Dale Goya of Sprint Hawaii for this recommendation.
Of course how could I not recommend something from the most famous Japanese electronics firm, Sony. So if money is not a object, I would suggest getting Sony's new 40" LCD Monitor. The 40" Bravia LCD Flat Screen Monitor. The amazing thing about this screen besides the great image it can display, is it is only 9.9mm thick. So it can be put just about anywhere! Also remember to tell them to get Oceanic's Digital Cable Service with HD Entertainment package so your gift even more!
One last thing, don’t forget the rechargeable batteries for all your electronics. The best rechargeable batteries I have found are made by Sanyo and go under the name of “eneloop”. They work well with electronics devices and they don’t run down when you not using them like other rechargeable batteries. I got my batteries from Costco in a kit with the charger and adapters but they're available from other stores or on-line.
I hope this help give you some ideas for your techie love ones. From me to all of you, a Very Merry Christmas and a Most Happy New Year!
