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Are you making a list? Checking it twice? Trying to figure out who’s naughty or nice?
The holidays are fast approaching and you’re probably thinking of what to give your friends and loved ones. Some of you may have already finished your holiday shopping, others haven’t even made their lists yet.
If you’re still wondering what to give someone as a gift, perhaps consider tech. If they have an iPhone or iPad, an iTunes gift card could buy them some apps, songs, movies or ebooks. If they have a Kindle or an Android phone, an Amazon gift certificate could be used to buy Kindle books or Android apps (or almost anything else they might want).
If you’re thinking bigger, maybe you’re considering giving an ebook reader, such as the Kindle or Nook, or a tablet such as the iPad or Kindle Fire. Maybe your loved one wants a new smartphone or laptop. Or perhaps a new home theater system for your spouse (something you might enjoy as well?).
The Wonder of Tech wonders: are you giving tech this year? Vote in today’s poll and let us know! (You can vote more than once if you are giving multiple tech gifts!)
If you’re at a loss about what to give, consider giving your loved one a free subscription to The Wonder of Tech! Who wouldn’t love that? Remember, it’s the thought that counts!
What tech are you giving this holiday season? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Image by Irina Souiki
** Image by Sam Howzit
Amazon Fire for my son! Pre-ordered to ensure I got it!
Hi Carol, Great idea, I’m sure he’ll love it! Please keep us posted. 🙂
Got any age-appropriate suggestions?
Hi Gramps, Great question. A lot of tech, such as the iPad, is appropriate for any age. I’ve seen kids as young as two having fun with an iPad. But I don’t recommend you give a two year old an iPad as a gift.
If you’re stuck an iTunes or Amazon gift card is always appreciated. They can be sent via email or printed and delivered.
Hi Carolyn,
I have thought about tech for my sister. It is difficult, something too technical and she won’t use it! She has an eBook reader and laptop. I bought her a dictation thingy last year because she was considering writing a book. I think I might go with a voucher this year.
Have you used Adobe digital editions. I like it and I think it works on a number of devices. I read PDF’s with it and unlike the usual PDF reader it keep my place if I close it half way through –
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/
You could write a blog about that! I think it works on the Ipad.
Hi Mike, Adobe Digital Editions is very interesting tech and another helpful source for ebooks. Their ebooks are compatible with dozens of different ereaders and computers, including the iPad through the BookShelf app, but not the Kindle.
You’re right, that’s a good future topic, thanks for suggesting it.
I hope you’re able to find a fun gift for your sister. Perhaps a gift card for ebooks for her ereader?
Hey Carolyn,
Well, the only way I can answer this is I give them whatever they ask for. In my family, we do lists. We always give presents to the children (who aren’t really kids anymore) and then we draw names for the adults. Whatever is on their list, we get them. So if they want something tech, that’s what they’ll get.
We learned a very long time ago to ask and you shall receive. We got tired of getting things we would never use. Thank goodness everyone finally learned.
Thanks for these suggestions. I have a feeling they’ll come in very handy!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, That’s a great idea to make sure no one is disappointed by their gift. I wonder how many in your family will put tech on their lists? 😉
Very cool implementation of the poll! 🙂
Hi Keri, I’m so glad you enjoyed the poll! The results are very interesting. 🙂
That is one neat poll! I probably won’t be giving tech to anyone (although my daughter wishes for a new mobile – am I a bad Mom?), but would really love to get tech from Santa. My wish is a brand new, shiny iPhone! 😀
Hi Anna, No, you’re not a bad mom. My kids used to ask me at what age they could get a cell phone. I always told them that there was no age, that they could get a cell phone when they were ready for one. So you’re wise to hold out until you think she’s ready.
I hope Santa brings you your heart’s desire!
Carolyn, aloha. Love these polls and seeing the answers. Will have to come back and check. YES, I am both giving Tech and a gift card to an online store–Amazon, of course. Personally, I love both giving and receiving Amazon cards.
Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Hi Janet, Amazon gift cards are just great, aren’t they? No matter what a person’s interest, they can find something at Amazon.
So what tech are you giving?
I’m so glad you enjoy these polls. I always find the results fascinating. Sometimes I predict what the results will be, but they’re always surprising!
I hope you have a fabulous weekend as well, Janet! 🙂
Carolyn, aloha. At least 2 Kindles, plus gifts cards as well as an Amazon Prime Membership because of the Kindle library benefits.
So, are you giving tech? Ooops, I guess you can’t answer that in public in case those who would be receiving it, read your blog.
Until next week, aloha. Janet
You know Carolyn, I was wondering along these lines if you might know of a tech solution to a problem I’m having in regards to Christmas.
Family and friends are wondering what to get me for Christmas and I was wondering if you knew of any sites or services that are set up for this. You know, something like how Amazon has their “Wish List” but maybe more universal? Somewhere you can set up some things you are looking at getting and then just send them there if they need some ideas.
Might be a good blog down the road.
Bryce
Hi Bryce, Excellent question. You can check out myregistry.com that allows gift registry for multiple sites. They even have an iPhone and an Android app. But the reviews of both the site and the apps are mixed.
The challenge for a gift registry site is to keep track of gifts that have been purchased at the different merchant sites and to find out when items have been discontinued or are out of stock.
Sticking to a single site, such as Amazon or Target, may be your best bet for a gift registry! 🙂
I always buy some tech as gifts for Christmas, but i haven’t planned exactly what. I have been considering an iPad for my wife, but I’ll have finish my novel soon because I’m not sure if I can afford it 🙂
Hi Jens, I’m wondering if I should start learning Norwegian so I can read your novel. I should probably start now if your novel isn’t going to be translated into English!
I’m sure your wife will enjoy her iPad whenever she gets it. Are you enjoying yours?
Well, if I get some good feedback on the Norwegian version, I’m sure I’ll pay for someone to translate it 🙂
I’m really enjoying my iPad, but I haven’t been using it as much as I thought I would. I think the reason is that it’s too big to just carry (without a bag or a backpack) and if I usually bring my MacBook to meetings. But, I’m using it every single day, and I love to read blogs and answer emails, use the calendar and all sorts of stuff.
Well, m not in a position to gift a smartphone to someone rite now, but I’d like to do it once I get through my studies.
Hi Faran, A smartphone is an expensive gift to give because of the plan that goes along with it! I hope you do very well in your studies. 🙂
The Kindle Fire is looking like a good gift to me.
Hello Jack, Yes, the Kindle Fire is a very exciting tablet, due to ship soon. The question is, should you pre-order it? The initial reviews of the demo models were very positive, but some will want to wait until the device is launched before ordering it. Others will want to be sure they get it in time for the holidays so will pre-order it before launch. Hopefully both sets of people will be pleased with their decision!
Aah..I lost the poll. Anyways will continue with my plans. An iphone 4S to my gf and yes the subscription too:)
Hi ssrijan, what were you wishing for in the poll? Your girlfriend will be thrilled with your gift, I’m sure! 🙂
You’re seriously going to laugh at me for this, but one of my favorite gifts to give is a journal. And then to write in front of that journal all the things I admire and love about the person who’s receiving the gift.
And this year, let’s see, something with tech….I’m not always that good about giving tech gifts! Was thinking of getting my brother a nice new aquarium with a high tech filter/heater, etc…so that might be a tech gift! 😉
Hi Christian, What a wonderful idea! I have given journals before as presents but have never written in them. I have one set to give for Christmas so perhaps I will carry on with your tradition.
Yes, an aquarium filter definitely qualifies as a tech gift. I should have included that in the poll. 😉
This year I am going out on a limb for a Lowrance Fish Finder for my man’s boat. I live with a Bass Fisher! He has been complaining about not being able to see fish so I am just getting one of those.
My girls and I pitching in and it will be probably our most expensive gift. They aren’t cheap if you can believe that. So that’s my tech gift for the holidays!
Hi Sonia, I’m definitely seeing a pattern here with you and Christian. I am so silly, not including aquatic tech in the poll. You can rest assured I won’t make that mistake again! 😉
I can definitely believe that fish finders are not cheap, though I imagine they are cheaper now than they once were. Most of the GPS devices have dropped significantly in price over the years.
Hi Carolyn,
I am not sure if I would give anyone any tech presents this Christmas. I would love to but budget is really constraining. Most like I would just give my children something to for Christmas. They are little still but are already becoming very good at my iPhone. Let’s see if I can teach my elder girl how to use a mouse.
BTW, I have been saving up a bit for a MacAir. My work needs it. Do you think that this a good investment? I am looking at enhancing my presentations next time with multimedia linkages if you know what I mean.
Hi Jimmy, Isn’t it amazing how even little kids can enjoy the iPhone? But the more they enjoy it the less they’re willing to give it back to you!
That’s very exciting you want to get a MacBook Air. Any MacBook Air owner I’ve ever heard from has been thrilled with their purchase. Macs are great for working with multimedia presentations.
Keep us posted! 🙂
Yes my children are refusing to give up our iphones now which is why I am seriously thinking against buying an iPad. BTW, a quick question: When children use these gadgets exclusively for edutainment, does it speed up their mind processing leading to things like ADHD later? Plus, too much watching at too close a range is not good for the eyes right?
Wow, great questions. The iPad was only launched last year so the long term impact of the use of iPad by children has not been studied yet. But in my discussions with the CEO of Inkling, a university level textbook publisher for iPads, he said that students became more engaged with the interactive features of the iPad textbooks over printed textbooks. (See the link below).
I try to have my screen brightness the lowest possible on my iPad. iPad screens are backlit so looking at them for too long can cause eyestrain.
I love buying people tech pressies. Today we gave our daughter an Apple TV (it’s her 18th today) and she absolutely loves it! We were thinking about an iPad or an Android tablet, we also bought her a TV (come one it is her 18th!) and the Apple TV device compliments that perfectly!
Honestly, with kids, anything with “Apple” on the packaging makes them scream with joy. Nice marketing Apple!
Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave, As much as you like giving tech gifts, your family enjoys receiving them! Does your daughter have an iPhone so she can use AirPlay with her Apple TV?
I can imagine she loves her Apple TV. They are very useful and fun devices. We have an older model Apple TV which doesn’t have AirPlay and we still love using ours. One of the most fun uses is to turn our TV into a large digital photo frame.
Happy 18th birthday to your daughter, Dave! <:-P
I won’t make any presents this year to anyone except to my girlfriend (and nice holiday vacation to the mountains).
But I probably will buy some tech for Christmas, most probably a kindle fire!
Hi Christian, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! That sounds like a lovely present for your girlfriend! I’m sure she will appreciate a vacation to the mountains and a Kindle Fire to keep her warm. 😉
I’m tech geek and a techie giver too. This Christmas I think I wanna give my wife an iPad and my kids too.
Hi Dennis, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m sure your family will be delighted at your choice of gifts! I haven’t known anyone to be disappointed at receiving an iPad. 🙂