End-of-Year Shopping

   We all know what the holiday season is about.  It’s a time to gather with friends and family. It’s a time to appreciate what is good and right in your life. It’s a time to help others.

   And we also know that somehow, the altruistic instinct to give gifts to those who are part of your life has somehow been transformed into a shopping extravaganza that lasts from the Thanksgiving week-end through the twelve days of Christmas, and beyond. No matter your faith or philosophical position, it is almost certain that you will become caught up in this consumer frenzy.

   That said, I’d like to take PC World’s Top 100 “Best Products of the Year” and distill the list for educators who are interested in what’s new in technology. Increasingly, it’s harder to distinguish if a device is for school or for leisure time. So consider this list a work and a play list for yourself or for someone near and dear.

-        Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: By many accounts, this is the best dedicated reader on the market. It’s not a fully functional tablet; it’s a dedicated e-reader that works equally well outdoors and indoors. Different models can access content via wireless or 3G.

-        Samsung Galaxy S III: This is the best selling Android phone.  It’s very full featured but people like using it because it’s got a great display and it works smoothly.

-        Lenovo Ideapad Y580: Though I’ve never used this particular model, Lenovo (a corporate descendant of IBM) has made very good computers for years. This model gets high marks for speed and features, though at 6.2 pounds, it’s not an ultralight.

-        Microsoft Surface RT: In case you missed one of the big tech stories of this year, Microsoft is plunging into the hardware business with a phone and tablet utilizing the Windows 8 system. The Surface is their tablet.

-        Dell Ultrasharp U2713HM: It’s a stand-alone 27” monitor that is LED backlit and has very sharp resolution. If you’ve got a computer (PC or Mac) and want to hook up a monitor for better viewing, this model could be a fine choice.

-        Jawbone Big Jambox: Jawbone makes speakers. This model is fully portable and pairs wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled iOS and Android devices. So if you have a smartphone or tablet and want to play music, etc. and want it to be heard by others, this is a great solution. (Think about a speaker to take with you on your patio or to a tailgate event.)

-        Kickstarter: This web site is not new this year, but during 2012, it’s really come into its own. It is a crowd-funding site. You look for projects you are interested in and you can become a sponsor. (Generally, there’s a concrete incentive based on your participation level.) Or you can get funding for your project.  Have a project in mind?

-        Sony Bloggie Live MHS-TS55: Remember the Flip camera? Remember how Cisco bought the company and then shut it down? Many people were not happy. This Sony pocket-size video camera fills the niche, and adds wireless streaming capability.

-        Asus RT-N66U: This is a router so you can set up a wireless network in your home.  The performance of this unit is excellent. Streaming signals should carry without any break-up. A home wireless network opens up digital possibilities not otherwise available.

-        Western Digital My Passport 2TB: This external drive really should hold ALL your pictures, video files, music and documents. It carries 2 terabytes worth of information. That’s a lot. A simple USB connection to your computer gets you started.