| Timeless Can’t-Miss Gift Suggestions By Steve Kruschen, The One and Only Mr. Gadget® ©2010 All Rights Reserved June 16, 2010 (revised) - Any time you need a gift this is a good place to start. OK, I won't sugarcoat it, spin it or otherwise suggest these are for any particular occasion or recipient. The truth is, they are for the occasion and person you think best, so pick your occasion and then select the gift idea that appeals to you. Think of this long article as my own growing catalog of what I consider timeless and trusted best products. These choices are not necessarily brand new. Some are pretty new and some have been around for years. They are, however tried-and-true ideas that I have personally tested and recommend because they're terrific. If they're new to you or you have still not given something below to the recipient, then you're in luck and I've made it easy for you. Isn't it nice to find gifts you know will please for a long time to come? One final thought before I turn you loose. As you will see, there are no graphics here. This way, the page loads quickly and you're off and running. Please, however, take a few minutes to click the links so you can actually visit my suggestions. You'll be surprised, pleasantly so, especially if the ideas are new to you. Even if my write-up doesn't excite you, seeing more online may do the trick. I've done the research, so you can be confident of making intelligent buying decisions. Custom auto floor mats from GG Bailey Custom car covers from California Car Cover C. Crane Company for high performance LED lighting, flashlights, high performance radios The best Wi-Fi radio EVER – Logitech Squeezebox Boom and the new Squeezebox Radio DVD rental from Netflix (and movie and TV show streaming from Netflix to your TV) or Blockbuster TiVo and TiVo repairs, TiVo upgrades from Weaknees.com, plus External TiVo storage from Western Digital Computer memory, digital camera memory and card readers from Kingston Technology Phanfare - THE best photo and video sharing Website - great family gift! Audible.com - Audio books and more, read all about it Santa Maria Bar-B-Que Salt - BEST seasoned salt I've had - Everyone'll love this Tissot T-Touch Watch - Best gadget watch ever - yet it looks like a "normal" fine watch Tech Clothing from Scott eVEST - Best and original, unique ideas, high quality Slingbox - YOUR TV shows from home remotely via Internet on your computer, handheld devices while traveling Invisible Shield - EVERY handheld screen needs this protection - cameras, iPods, phones, more Sonos - YOUR music, anywhere in your home, throughout your home, wirelessly WOWWEE – Unusual remote control toys Time for a computer - BUY A MAC already! Time to switch to the best Essential software for Macs and Windows PCs The Coolest NEW Flashlight - small, SUPER-powerful, rechargeable, ruggedly built like no other - Pelican 7060, the new LAPD flashlight can be yours! Fenix high-performance LED flashlights shine VERY brightly and are decidedly different from the rest of the pack GG Bailey – Perfect for anyone with a car, GG Bailey produces beautiful custom floor mats, front and rear, (plus trunk mats) starting at only $70. They are unlike anything you’ve seen. I have been a satisfied customer for many years. Add embroidered initials, sports or other logos to personalize them for an unforgettable gift. These are of the highest quality, and custom made to fit the vehicle. It’s fun to design your own mats online at their Website. GG Bailey also offers sheepskin seat covers and other accessories, but it’s the mats that are the stars as far as I am concerned. Order online. Imagine, every time your gift recipient enters the car, your gift will be seen, experienced and appreciated. Check out the very different options and styles from interior bling to understated luxury and elegance. These products are built to last, as mine have. It’s the quality, value, longevity and their uniqueness that keeps me recommending them to you for any and all occasions, for drivers young and not so young. And don’t forget to consider adding a trunk mat. Many cars today have plain, hard and slippery trunk flooring. A GG Bailey trunk mat is soft, luxurious, and durable and it can be personalized. It will also protect and beautify the trunk area. This is a very special gift idea, indeed. Top of List California Car Cover – Before we leave the automotive ideas area, California Car Cover makes custom car covers and offers lots more. Peruse their Site and you’ll see. The car covers are about the best for the money. Top of List C. Crane Company – Still my favorite catalog retailer for high performance radios and LED technology. I’ve been a customer and recommended them to you for almost 20 years. Bob Crane is in the business of making his customers happy, so you can be sure of customer satisfaction from the ordering process through to using and enjoying what it is that was purchased, for yourself or as a gift. My favorites include their outstanding, best-in-class radios – the new CCRadio 2, best ever Shower Radio (that I helped design!) and Sonido portable; LED lighting products – flashlights (my favorite CC Trek), LED keychain lights and amazing, almost magical power-saving LED light bulbs (especially their exclusive GeoBulb) that last for years and years and will save big money on electric bills (learn about the technology here); my favorite and highly recommended pillow speaker (See my new review HERE); and Wi-Fi Internet Radios, to name just a few. The CCRadio-SW has super reception on everything of which it is capable; AM, FM and Shortwave. Shortwave is something old and unfamiliar to most consumers today. It’s radio from around the world and fun to explore if you have the time and some patience. It’s an opportunity to slow down from today’s typical fast-paced life and listen to and learn about the world through radio. This world-class instrument is well worth the effort. If super portability is what you want, get this new $100 Kaito KA1103, an unusual-looking little portable. Unusual, yes, but feature rich, with 268 memory presets, digital tuning, of course, though it would appear to be an analog tuner. Comes with carry pouch, AC adapter and four “AA” rechargeable batteries. More than a year ago I sent one to a dear family friend working in a tiny waaaaaay-off-the-beaten-path mountain area in Indonesia. He reports being totally thrilled and amazed to hear the BBC, Christian Science Monitor (a terrific and respected worldwide short wave radio news service), Voice or America and more, even though so far from home in the US. He loved being able to hear what’s going on in the western world and had no idea such luxury was available. It’s also equipped with AM radio and comes with a built-in whip antenna as well as an auxiliary long wire to enhance short wave reception. If you know a world traveler, this will be a welcome gift wherever it is in the world that he or she travels. Here is a list of Shortwave frequencies in their countries of origin that the company has compiled for your convenience. Among the newest of C. Crane’s wonderful products is the CC Witness. If you’ve ever wanted to record your favorite radio shows, your voice or to do these PLUS have a dandy MP3 player, this is it. As powerful as it is compact, the new CC Witness is a product that is long overdue. Use CC Witness to record from connected Wi-Fi radios, too! Click the link to it above and you’ll say WOW as I did. Compatible with Macs as well as Windows computers, I love this compact powerhouse. Really, I could go on and tell you about other recommended products from Bob’s catalog. The best advice is to click the company link above, have a look at my recommendations on their Website and then call to discuss your interests (even to ask for help in locating the products mentioned above), and then buy with complete confidence. It’s important to second-mention their GeoBulb 3, the latest technology and advancements in LED lighting for the home. C. Crane, that little company up in northern California is at the forefront of this technology the other guys are getting into. Bob Crane’s passion for doing things right shines more than ever in this new product so be sure to pay particular attention to it! Call the helpful, friendly C. Crane folks at 1-800-522-8863. Top of List Speaking of Wi-Fi radios as I did above, one of these is my new favorite toy. While others may like them primarily for their ability to receive interference free local AM stations long since given up, I like them for different reasons. Sure, I like to listen to local AM and FM stations from just about any city I’ve visited while I am back at home. Most users may buy these for their ability to wired or wirelessly connect to and stream music from computers on the home network. My favorite use is one of nostalgia, in addition to interference-free AM radio listening. I’ve fallen for old time radio, the way it was before I was born and when I was a wee lad in the fifties and sixties, before radio as it was then was gone for good, as late as 1982 when the CBS Radio Mystery Theater left the air. Relive those golden days of radio with Wi-Fi radios. There is no better Wi-Fi radio than the one and only Squeezebox Boom from Logitech, retailing for about $300. WOW! What a find this is. When I travel by car to lodging that has in-room Internet over Ethernet or wirelessly, I often take it with me and use it in my room. It’s everything just as it is at home, but also while I am away. Please click this LINK to read my review. This is the finest, most thoughtfully and intelligently designed radio ever produced! I stand firmly behind this statement. While the concept may be difficult to understand, this product will become indispensible to the user and it is relatively easy to configure using their online setup that sends all settings to the radio. Find the best price searching online, also available from C. Crane above. And now, add another, lower-cost favorite, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio (Read my review), a smaller version with almost all the features of the Boom, and with a smaller price, too, of only $200! This year Logitech also introduced a touch screen, speakerless model, dubbed Squeezebox Touch, with audiophile sound output and a wireless remote that, when used, automatically makes the on-screen images larger, as if it knows you are not there up close to touch the screen. This $299 gem is perfect where space is a concern and you have your own speakers or audio system into which you can jack this one. Bravo, again, Logitech! Top of List Netflix and Blockbuster online – The two mainstays of online DVD rental. What’s the diff? I have used them both (I am still a Netflix user), often looking for the same movie, just to see if there are any differences in what is available. Both vendors now also have a growing availability of Blu-ray titles! I have to give the nod to Netflix when it comes to depth and total number of available titles. I also think the Netflix Website is better and easier to navigate, as well as being more informative. It’s better, I think, for movie buffs at Netflix. And there are more than theatrical and direct-to-DVD movies at both. Look for documentaries and music videos, too. Both have flexible, unlimited rate plans that start as low as about $9 for one DVD at a time, two per month, and for more money, up to three or four out at a time and unlimited rentals as fast as you can watch them turn them around for the next one. Read about Netflix and Blockbuster plans. Both send the DVDs in pre-paid return mailers. Depending upon where in the US you live relative to the nearest distribution center, both may be capable of getting an order delivered to its destination in one business day. In my experience, Netflix is usually a day faster. Beyond what you’ve already read here, there may be a functional advantage to Blockbuster if the member lives near a Blockbuster store. Although the idea of these services is to avoid a trip to the video store in the first place (in addition to the no late fees policy), Blockbuster online members can take their already viewed DVD in its sealed return mailer to the store to instantly exchange it for another movie, though that one must also be returned to the store from which it is received. In addition, Blockbuster online members receive two coupons per month through their online account that can be printed and redeemed in the store for DVD movie or video game rentals, and, of course, those must also be returned to the store. Relatively new to Blockbuster is their Blockbuster On Demand service that sends the videos to you online, stored on your device in a pay-as-you-go manner, and once you start watching, you have 24 hours to finish it before it self-destructs. Not as cool, in my view, as Netflix and not available for Macs. You decide, but whichever makes the most sense for your recipient, a gift subscription is always a welcome gift for anyone; from students at home or away at school, to elderly relatives or friends, and everyone in between. Give a month or more, or just keep giving forever. Netflix members can also take advantage of other ways, at no additional cost, to enjoy movies. Watch online on Macs and Windows PCs and also watch using devices including Netflix Player by Roku, TiVo HD products as well as through Xbox 360 and more. Some new TVs have this built-in capability. Top of List Weaknees for TiVo purchase, repair or upgrade – This one takes some explanation. There are few consumer electronics products that I think are a don’t-look-back, just-spend-the-money-and-enjoy-it product. TiVo is one of those few, but the company has always had a difficult marketing job. It takes time to get the full message across and understood, plus, using it is the real salesperson. Let me take a stab at it. First, there’s TiVo, the granddaddy of and still the absolute best Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of them all. Only TiVo is TiVo. The others are not worth spit, as far as I am concerned. The non-TiVo DVR from your cable company or satellite provider just can’t measure up. Yes, I really do feel that strongly. You can read about my love of TiVo by searching my Site. Just enter “tivo” as your search term. TiVo continues to innovate and to improve its service by updating its software and by adding useful features – local weather, local movies playing and ticket purchase, traffic alerts, playing music and photos on local computers through the TiVo box, rent and send movies directly to TiVo for viewing from the TiVo box, and much more. They also have the best remote control of any consumer electronics product. At this writing, you can only use a new TiVo along with TV service from a cable supplier or with an outside antenna to pick up over-the-air broadcasts, but don’t get one for antenna use if it is not a High Definition TiVo, because those over-the-air NON-High Definition signals have ceased. Trying to make it work with a satellite service will prove unsatisfactory, I am afraid. However, the latest word is that TiVo and DIRECTV will team up again, allegedly by the end of 2010. Weaknees also has the dual-tuner TiVo series 2 DVRs for cable, as well as High Def dual tuner TiVo units for cable. I am just so impressed with TiVo’s ease and simplicity of use and the many extras it provides. TiVo Premiere is their newest, best box, starting at only $299, plus the cost of service. This is THE series to get. Read my review! This is an ultimate gift for anyone with HDTV, to be sure. I think TiVo is also among the very best consumer electronics products – EVER. In addition to the TiVo purchase itself, with whichever model is selected, there will also be a monthly charge for the TiVo service above your cable bill. I think it is best to do what I did. Since it is going to be around for many years ahead, I opted for their lifetime service at a cost of $399 for one TiVo, or $299 if this is not your only TiVo. The deal is different if you get a non-High Def DIRECTV TiVo. So, check out what Weaknees has to offer according to what it is you want for yourself or as a gift, either in a new TiVo OR for an upgrade to an existing TiVo for someone special. If the non-HD TiVo is used with cable service, it is not obsolete, since cable companies must continue to provide digital service that is NOT only High Def for years to come. In summary, visit www.weaknees.com for TiVo repairs (don’t toss out a non-working TiVo, fix it!), new TiVo purchases of the standard variety, to upgrade by super-sizing an existing TiVo, or to purchase a High Def TiVo, an ultimate gift ideal for someone with a High Definition TV. TiVo is the best, and Weaknees makes TiVo even better. Please call them with any questions you may have about any of their products or services at 888-WEAKNEES (932-5633). For TiVo information and to see what is available directly from TiVo, click here. Top of List More TiVo news: Service enhancements increase the benefit of owning TiVo products. TiVo-to-Go for all High Def models as well as for Series 2 models, for example. Connected to your home’s high-speed network, wired or wirelessly you can transfer programs from TiVo to computer, then format the video for transfer to your iPod, iPhone or iPad through iTunes. Let’s review - you can record favorite shows and transfer them to your iPod, etc. I’m loving it. There’s nothing better for travelers. I especially enjoy watching on the larger screens of the new iPhone and iPod touch models, and now on iPad. In addition, you can buy external hard drives from Weaknees. MORE TiVo NEWS (not Weaknees news) - Now, TiVo Series3, TiVo HD Digital Video Recorder owners, and purchasers of the new TiVo Premiere models can buy an external hard drive that will add up to 600 hours of standard definition and up to 120 hours of High Definition storage just by connecting this special hard drive from Western Digital called My DVR Expander. Click to learn details. It’s simply plug and play! WOW! And only about $150. There is more great news from TiVo. In addition to being able to see weather, traffic and YouTube videos through TiVo, you can also see photos and videos from networked computers and share online photos with anyone, anywhere. Users can order pizza from Domino’s using TiVo! As indicated above, Netflix members can stream movies over TiVo, too. Top of List Kingston – For computer memory (RAM), flash memory for digital cameras and other handheld devices as well as USB plug-in readers for this memory, USB flash drives and related goodies, this is a great company with top-tier products with which to do business. Add RAM to an older computer. Nice gift! Buy some digital film to go along with the gift of a digital camera. Add memory to that new mobile phone or other handheld device. Gift a card reader or a little flash drive of one or more gigabytes capacity. Kingston is the trusted name I have relied upon for many, many years for outstanding quality at outstanding prices. Great tech support is available from them, as well, though it is likely you will not need the support. Still, just in case, it’s nice to know they are there, locally in southern California, if help is needed. Find what it is you want that is listed on their Website, then copy the product number and Google for best online pricing. Pricing is so reasonable for all kinds of memory, for computers, digital cameras and for flash memory drives. Top of List Phanfare – Here is a unique, best-of-the-best photo and video sharing plus photo and video (from your little digital camera and from other video sources) back up service. It is NEVER a good idea to simply email individual photos to others for many reasons. Here are two of the best – First, if sending lots of them, the individual size of the email may be quite large, taking lots of time to send as well as for the recipient to have to download. Second, it’s a pain in the butt to manage this way. A third bonus reason is that the recipient might not be able to download large files and, frankly, should not have to do so. And there are many other good reasons to NOT simply email photos directly to others. I’ve been a Phanfare member and supporter for long enough that I am certain of this service as a standout in its category. Easy to use, really, for Mac and Windows users, this paid service is well worth the price. No ads, no pop-ups, no sign-ups required for your guests to view your images and videos and slideshows. It’s different from Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, Flikr, Dot Photo, Shutterfly and all the other FREE services in several important ways (click the link before this to learn more). Most others do not even accept videos. The others accept your photos for upload but ALL of these other free or nearly free-for-service companies (feel free to correct me if you learn differently) shortly thereafter reduce your big megapixel images to much smaller file sizes which are still plenty good for online viewing and maybe for small prints. Reducing the file size saves space on their big servers. Their slideshows are not nearly as cool. Hey, you get what you pay for. Phanfare takes your original photos, be they five megapixel images or 15 megapixels, and keeps them as originally uploaded. Do simple editing, rotation, captioning and much more, ONLY if you wish. Their slide shows are the best, too. Among the many user options, choose from NO musical accompaniment, Phanfare’s own selections or anything else you have. I sometimes use my own music that’s on my computer and upload it, making it available for use on any of my Phanfare album creations in the future. Access to Phanfare member Sites and albums may be password protected, so only invited guests are allowed viewing privileges. Phanfare accounts may be managed from multiple computers. I can upload photos from any of my computers, and then I can manage all my uploaded albums from my other computers, so long as the software has been installed on that computer. I just sign in. Phanfare visitor lists are maintained on their end for their members. Regardless of the computer from which I have logged onto my Phanfare account, I can manage and modify photos and albums as well as invite others, since all that info is on the Phanfare end, and they have their own secure backups to protect me. Users may view their Phanfare accounts with an iPhone app, too. What a great way to share! In addition, to all of the aforementioned advantages, users may set up their own USER.Phanfare.com site to share publicly or privately, with password, any albums. Phanfare’s many advantages and benefits continue to grow. If I set up an album with permission for this, my visitors can also download individual photos, the entire album or slideshow if they wish and print whatever they want on their own, either at home or through the online printing service of their choice. I never have to make and send prints to others. My Phanfare photo invitees may also click to order prints directly from Phanfare at very good prices right from the album if they do not want to deal with downloading to their computer or ordering through their own company choice and account. It’s totally flexible. The free-to-members Phanfare client software for Windows and Mac users is constantly being updated and improved by the good people at Phanfare. Users automatically get updates as available each time they log on to their account. I’ve communicated with Phanfare many times to offer suggestions and to ask questions. They are quick and nice, and they even have responsive, free telephone support. The sense of community among Phanfare members is similar to the way Mac users feel about their computers or TiVo users feel about TiVo. Members tend to be supportive fans with a real sense of community. This is the real deal that’s really good. It’ll make you smile. I promise you. Try it free for 30 days before you buy, but rest assured, it’s a keeper and a great gift idea. Priced from $100/year for unlimited storage. Here are ALL the prices for ALL their plans and services, storage and printing. The best deal, best prices for clearly the best service of its kind online. My choice and my recommendation is Phanfare! In addition to all the digital photos and videos mentioned earlier, now you can also include the ability to upload photos and videos from your iPhone and other mobile phones. Even if you’ve read this and just don’t get it yet, please check it out with the links above to learn more. If you know someone who takes digital family photos and who would like to be able to share with friends and family, this is the way to go. And remember the secondary yet invaluable extra; all the uploaded photos are permanently backed up by Phanfare so all those photos are safe and protected. No more worries in the event of a hard drive failure on your or your gift recipient’s end. Now, Phanfare is also offering photo books designed by YOU as well as great prices on prints. Start a FREE, no obligation trial and you WILL see that my recommendation is more than deserved. I have just learned of a NEW benefit for Phanfare members that is, of course, at no added cost – the service now accepts uploaded 720p High Def videos that can then be viewed by family and friends in all their original quality! Restrictions apply, of course, as to length and amount of data, as would be expected. And finally, for those of you who use Eye-Fi memory cards that have wireless connectivity built into the cards for sending photos and videos directly from the card through the nearest open wireless Internet, Phanfare is compatible! So, you can upload to Phanfare right from the camera. Top of List Audible.com – First there were audio books called books-on-tape available for purchase. Then there were retail rental outlets and they started to become available from your local library. Somewhere along the path came books on CD. Something truly revolutionary occurred in 1997 with Audible’s founding. I immediately fell in love with Audible, the downloadable audio books format, and started recommending it. Audible.com content is available through Apple’s iTunes Store on Macs and on Windows PCs in addition to its direct link. Content is much more than simply audio books. Still a favorite and getting better and better all the time, audible.com is another great gift and now an Amazon.com company! With plans starting at just $7.49 per month for the first three months, check it out. Users can listen to downloaded content on the computer or on numerous brands of digital audio players in addition to iPods, iPhones, iPads and numerous other devices and smart phones. The content is read with customarily impeccable style, skillfully produced. Many unabridged versions are available. I love to close my eyes and listen to the books while traveling or simply relaxing. It’s a very enjoyable way to “read.” Whatever is the favorite content style of the subscriber, audible.com has it – mystery, historical novel, biography, comedy, and all the rest. Content is easily transferred from computer to numerous compatible devices. To see their huge list of compatible devices, go to www.audible.com and click here Top of List Santa Maria Bar-B-Que Salt – yes, it’s a FOOD! My favorite barbeque salt, introduced to me in the 1970s, is back and as good as I remember it. It even looks exactly the same. From Santa Maria, CA, the home of the famous Santa Maria-style Barbeque, this is the original recipe that is as delicious as it is unmistakable and distinctive. Use it on meat and chicken, eggs, salads, cottage cheese, in dips, mixed with butter and fresh garlic to make spectacular and scrumptious garlic bread and in many other ways. I love this stuff. You will, too. Click the link to read about it. Buy it by the case because everyone will love it and you will be the hero for providing it as a different kind of gift. Your gift recipient will thank you and think of you every time this unique blend is used. Mmmmmm, that’s great eatin’! NOT in stores. Buy it once and I know you will re-order. Top of List Tissot T-Touch watch – part of the Swatch Group, Tissot makes wonderful timepieces. My personal favorite gadget watch remains their T-Touch. I call it my stealth gadget watch because it looks like a regular nice watch, but its secret is the touch-sensitive mineral crystal that activates six functions like no other watch on the planet. From about $400 online with careful shopping. Retail starts at about $650 in many stores. I love my T-Touch. Get one for someone special in your life. A fine and accurate timepiece. I recently had the opportunity to wrist-test a couple of the new Casio gadget watches, hoping to find a worthy alternative. Despite solar charging and features including altimeter, compass, barometer, thermometer and more, I found the watches to be horribly complex and not at all user friendly. Their operation was confusing and non-intuitive. No sale. I’ll continue to suggest the Tissot T-Touch models as THE watch in this category, both accurate and elegant, as well as loaded with technology and features, and all of it easy to access without complicated procedures. Still the champ – Tissot T-Touch. I cannot wait to see what they do next! Be sure to view all the models now in the line, from the main T-Touch models through the new Expert models (which I hope to be able to review soon for you) to models specifically for divers, navigators and a model called the Silen-T. I cannot imagine anyone not feeling special with any of these fine T-Touch timepieces. Top of List Clothing – Mostly for men, you can’t go wrong with technology-enabled clothing from Scott eVEST. These are unique products. They’ve got pants, jackets, shirts, hoodies, the coolest Gadget Tie and lots more, with pockets galore and interconnecting channels designed for our mobile lifestyle. Their products are of very high quality, as well. Please tell them Mr. Gadget sent you. I wear their Finetex jacket and fleece in my travels to cooler climes. They are good friends and I know they will become a trusted resource for you. www.scottevest.com. Top of List Slingbox – If someone you know is a traveler who has TiVo or just plain cable TV or satellite service, this is a device that allows all local programming and recorded TV to be taken along (even in HD) for viewing on computers or handheld mobile devices anywhere in the world. I think of it as taking along a piece of home while on the road. NOW they work with Macs! There are no recurring monthly fees. Admittedly, this is a bit of a geek’s gift, but it’s a very cool geek’s gift that keeps on giving. Top of List The Invisible Shield – For any device with an exposed display – iPod, iPhone, iPad, digital camera, PDA, other mobile phones, Blackberry, and more, protect it with a miraculous product like nothing else I’ve ever seen. If it’s got a display to protect, it needs The Invisible Shield! Here is what I wrote in my original review. For a very small additional charge, they will make a custom size shield for a display size not already in their repertoire. I cannot tell you of all the totally satisfied friends and relatives who have taken my advice on this. It’s a one-of-a-kind product, a must for any display worth protecting. Shields are usually for less than $15, depending upon the size. You just cannot lose. Top of List Sonos– If you know a music lover who would want his or her tunes now stored on one or all computers in the home to be available for listening anywhere in the house, you, my friend, need to give the gift of Sonos. Any song, in any room, from anywhere, and they mean it! Read my comments and recommendations about this excellent product line and gift idea. This is a simple to use and elegant system like no other. There are new products introduced since my review that can be found through the main product link above. Of principle interest are new models with lower prices AND the upgrades that allow Sonos users to access thousands and thousands of Internet stations and other content. And now, anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch can also control Sonos with the FREE remote control application for those gadgets. How cool is this! The Sonos Bundle 50 a great way to start and costs only $999. And take note of the new Sonos Controller 200 as well as the new Sonos ZonePlayer S5, a mighty powerful, yet small and room-filling speaker system. Take the time to explore Sonos. There is nothing quite like what they offer, tested, approved and heartily recommended by Mr. Gadget®! Top of List WOWWEE - I like to think of my job and often say it is that I get paid to play with toys. This, for the most part, is a figurative expression, but there are exceptions. Occasionally, I really do get to play with toys, real toys. Wow Wee is a company dedicated to coolness in this category and that is why it has earned a spot here. Best known for its life-like and sophisticated robotic toys, have a look at all these fun-lovers produce. Log in at the link above to create your own account and buy direct or check locally as well as through your own online searches. Click the WOWWEE link above to see what else is new. Top of List Computers and software – If you were to ask me which computer to buy, my answer would be this: Unless you are comfortable with Windows, you like Windows, you must have Windows for a work program that is Windows only, or if you are a serious PC gamer (playing Windows-only games), then my answer is this – BUY A MAC! I never get complaints from those who take this advice. I hear things like, “I should have done this sooner!” with great regularity. Now, don’t get me wrong, I use Windows daily, too. And since I use both all the time, I have the opportunity to keep up with both. In my experience, using a Mac is a dream. Using Windows consistently and regularly presents challenges, often major ones. Macs will cost more, but since they work (generally) better and for more years than a comparable Windows computer, they end up costing less to operate. If Windows is your choice, go for it! Macs (Mac mini, iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro) come with just about all you’ll need - iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iCal, Mail, Address Book and much more. Macs will do all you’ll want. They come with MUCH more, as well. They come ready to send and receive faxes within the computer. Macs can create PDFs from any application (it’s a built-in feature) or email any document with one click from your Mac, and so on. The only real outside software most consumers might want is Microsoft Office for Mac, totally compatible with its Windows counterpart. The Student and Teacher version is only $150 and often less with rebate. ALL new Macs can also run Windows! That’s right, on new Macs with Intel processors and if you own a Windows XP with Service Pack 2 disc or Vista, even Windows 7 as I have installed on my Mac Pro, you can install Windows on your Mac to have the best of both on one computer. However, if you install Windows on a Mac, it will still need antivirus and antispyware software and may suffer all the usual Windows maladies when running in Windows mode because in every way, it becomes a Windows computer! The best advice I can offer regarding the Mac is to visit an Apple Retail Store and speak with someone there about your interests and needs, to see and touch and use a Mac so you can see what it is I mean. You’re bound to fall in love. No, Macs are not perfect. Nothing is. They’re just better than the other guys. Top of List Essential Mac extras include a membership with Versiontracker. This free service allows you to check in on any Mac software updates. Sign up for Versiontracker Pro and the MacFixIt Pro Bundle, $60 annually, their premium service that alerts you directly of updates for software on YOUR computer and provides access to MacFixIt, THE place to look and learn about Mac hardware and software issues. Subscriptions are good for up to three Macs! Other plans cover up to 10 Macs. Read about all of it. It’s the best way to keep abreast of what’s new in software for your Mac or as a gift for the Mac user. I also recommend and use Stuffit Deluxe as the product and engine that compresses and extracts files, to and from Macs and Windows PCs. While viruses are not a big Mac concern, at least for now, as they have not been for the last 15 years, you just can’t be too careful. Though I know many Mac users do not bother with antivirus protection and don’t think about it, I use and recommend Intego VirusBarrier on my Macs. Just in case. Download a free trial, and then buy it! Better still, get Intego Security Barrier to protect against viruses and all malware that could affect Macs (even though at this time, none has). In addition, the suite comes with Intego Personal Backup, the amazing software that automates complete backup, a clone that is bit for bit an exact copy of your internal hard drive. If your Mac’s internal hard drive fails, (Only on a Mac) you can boot, that is, start up from your external backup/clone as if nothing happened. Amazing! Of course, at that time you are on borrowed time and MUST get the internal, failed drive replaced. Then, it is a SIMPLE exercise to clone back the external drive to the new internal, and you’re back in business. $80 is all it takes to protect TWO Macs with their antivirus AND backup program, both of which ALL Gadget Family Macs have installed and use, and, of course are strong Mr. Gadget® recommendations. IF Windows is your choice and you buy a Windows PC, or if you already own one, or install Windows on your Mac, the only sure-fire Windows antivirus program I recommend at this time is, and this is very firm, NOD32 from ESET. It just flat works and will not slow down your PC. Try it free for 30 days, but remember to remove any and all existing antivirus software first. It’s simply the best antivirus program you’ve never heard of. I’ve also installed it on my Windows 7 PCs, as well as trying others, the big names and some lesser-known brands. Stick with ESET NOD32 for the least annoying, best performing, won’t-slow-you-down antivirus available. Versiontracker and Versiontracker Pro are also available for Windows, and these are also recommended for Windows users. Top of List An ultimate gift for the person (most likely a guy) who loves flashlights is the Pelican 7060. This is THE official flashlight of the Los Angeles Police Department, developed in partnership with the LAPD. The torch packs a wallop! It’s a high tech work of art that just happens to be the best, coolest, most powerful flashlight I’ve seen that is still somewhat affordable, selling from about $110 to $150 online - search “Pelican 7060” in Google. Its powerful 4.4-watt LED cuts through the night with amazing brightness and focus, even at long distances. This is a product that is of the highest quality and rugged enough for its intended police work. A nice, tight beam carries all the way out, with a secondary ring of light that illuminates nearby areas up to 12 feet out. The dual switch design makes perfect sense – one in the tail cap and one on the body. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but lots of my friends are eyeing one of these and I am sure, in short order, many will also have purchased one for themselves. Brilliant! No recipient will be disappointed with the performance and design of this flashlight. Oh, my, is it something! The BIG BROTHER to the 7060 is also available. It’s the 8060 and it’s just MORE of everything - more power, longer run time. Top of List New to this list are premium, enthusiast and tactical flashlights from Fenix. My good friend, Jim Needham, who is also our graphics designer and creator of all Mr. Gadget logos (as well as being an accomplished photographer), is also a flashlight nutcase like me. He gifted me a Fenix LD10 R4 (about $50 with careful online shopping) and opened my eyes to an entirely new line that I have come to like and respect. In particular, I like inspired designs, powerful, small, water resistant, multifunctional, nearly indestructible flashlights that use common AA or AAA batteries. All Fenix lights seem to share these unique properties, except that some are available using disposable Lithium CR123 batteries, which are more costly and less readily available than the common ones I like. Even in my LD10, I substituted an Energizer disposable Ultimate Lithium AA for greater run time. I still love and carry my C. Crane CC Trek LED flashlight on every trip (and in the glove box in our cars), but I now also have along this Fenix light. With up to 130 lumens output in its Turbo mode, it’s incredibly bright and throws a long, powerful beam in contrast to its diminutive size. Fenix lights will make outstanding gifts or personal purchases! Peruse the Fenix site above, and start shopping. Just do a Google search on “fenix XXXXX” where XXXXX is the model number found on the Fenix site and get your best price. Top of List |
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