Whether you’re buying technology tools and gadgets for yourself, or family and friends, it’s easy to fall prey to gift guides that feature items based solely on affiliate marketing (where the publisher receives a percentage of the sale). For our last monthly bulletin of the year, we’re featuring some very highly rated and affordable gift ideas that we’ve vetted for both great prices and usefulness.
At the end of our Holiday Gift Guide, I have a few important tips if you’re thinking about purchasing a new computer for yourself during the holidays. These tips will save you money (and possibly some regret) if you consider them before your purchase.
(NOTE: Prices in our Gift Guide are at the time of publication and subject to change.)
Holiday Gift Guide
Rechargeable Hand Warmers – ($19.99/24.99) Kudos to whoever invented these! They work so much better than the disposable hand warmers and are great for cold weather walks, golf, or just to have in case you get stranded in the cold. It’s not only a convenient hand warmer but also an emergency backup battery if your mobile phone battery is low. This is a great gift for anyone on your list…including yourself.
Apple AirTags – ($24.98/29.00) For anyone who uses an iPhone, Apple AirTags have become an absolute must-have item. Keep track of and find your items along with tracking friends and devices in the Find My app. Simple one-tap setup instantly connects an AirTag with your iPhone or iPad. Great for tracking luggage, keys, pets, children, elderly loved ones, purses, backpacks…the list is endless. All communications between you and an AirTag are anonymous and encrypted for privacy. Location data and history are never stored on the AirTag.
12-inch Screen Magnifier for Smartphone – ($19.95/24.95) Mobile Phone 3D Magnifier Projector Screen for Movies, Videos, and Gaming. If you watch movies and videos on your smartphone and would like to reduce the accompanying visual fatigue and discomfort, this is a perfect solution. The screen magnifier effectively doubles the size of your display and still allows you to watch in full HD. Compatible with all smartphones and requires no external power or battery. It is lightweight and portable so you can take it with you anywhere you go.
Bose QuietComfort Noise Canceling Earbuds – ($179/199) Industry-leading, noise canceling Bluetooth earbuds with an Integrated Sound Processor. Exceptional sound quality, crystal clear call quality, beam-forming microphone and a bone-conduction sensor provide clear voice detection even in noisy environments. 8-hour battery, water resistant and fast, wireless charging.
Kasa Slim WiFi Smart Plug (4-pack) – ($39.99/49.99) These Kasa smart plugs are one of the highest-rated smart plugs available and they are the best way to easily get started in automating your home. Why get up out of your comfy recliner to turn on lights or appliances when Siri or Google will do it for you. Extremely easy and quick setup, compact design, and great for holiday lights and Christmas trees.
Oster Electronic Wine Opener – ($26.87/29.99) This is one of the best electric wine openers on the market. This wine opener has been around for over 20 years with the same design and has the best rating of any similar wine opener. Opens 30 bottles on a single charge. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for this item.
Kindle Paperwhite Book Reader– ($94.99/139.99) No gift guide would be complete without a Kindle, which is hands down, the absolute best book reader on the planet. During the holidays, Amazon deeply discounts all the Kindle models, but the Kindle Paperwhite is the best, and most affordably priced. The Paperwhite experience is so much more enjoyable than reading books on your smartphone or iPad.
Tips for Purchasing a New Computer
If you plan to purchase a new computer over the holidays, please keep these things in mind. The following advice is aimed at all-around use, such as email, surfing the internet, video calls, and photo sharing.
RAM (Random Access Memory) – More RAM means improved computer speed. While 8 to 16 GB of RAM will be enough for most average users, more is always better.
Processor – The higher the processing power, the faster your computer will run. A 2.3GHz to 3.5GHz processor is enough for most folks. If you use your computer for lots of photo or video editing, look to the high end of this range, or even higher.
Display Resolution – This impacts the cost of a new computer more than anything, but I recommend you don’t skimp here…get the most display resolution you can afford. Basic resolution is 1024 x 768, but I recommend getting at least 2560 x 1440. Higher resolution means text and images will be sharper and easier to see.
Disk Storage – Always…always opt for a Solid-State Drive (SSD). Greater storage space means you can save more images. videos, and files on your computer. But that said, 128GB to 256GB provides sufficient space for most users because you can get additional storage by getting an external hard drive or cloud storage later. I personally do everything from the cloud and keep my data and content backed up to an additional cloud storage solution. This means if you ever lose your computer, you will never lose the data and content that’s on it.
Larry McJunkin, President