The Web & The Wire
Technology Column with Joe Granese
February 13, 2008
Techie gifts will last long after the chocolate is gone
You forgot to order roses back in January? Now, with Valentine’s Day
upon us, you are at a loss for a gift item. The consequences of this can
be dire. Failing to come up with something memorable is every bit as bad
as forgetting an anniversary or leaving a common household plumbing
fixture in the wrong position.
Valentine’s Day transgressions are no longer the exclusive province of
distracted men. In these enlightened times, the ax swings both ways.
While the day has brought me little but credit card bills, many men out
there in the real world are looking forward to a special token of
affection on this special day.
Realizing your error, you can try to save the day at the last minute.
Those scant 15 minutes between work and home could possibly yield the
elusive home run and make everything better. Alas, you are not the only
one with that idea. The florist is picked clean. The candy store is
reduced to wicker baskets filled with Licorice Allsorts. Entry level
gifts at the jewelry store begin in the four-digit range.
Fear not. The Information Age comes to the rescue again with a wide
array of technological gifts and goodies to make today a truly special
event for everyone, even if you only thought of it at 4:40 p.m.
Traditional gifts like a short-lived bouquet of roses, a bad necktie, or
a big ballotin of hugely expensive chocolates will be long forgotten by
the time St. Patrick has his day. A gift of technology can be both
useful and entertaining for months, even years, until the next big thing
comes along.
While browsing at the usual techie stores and websites, I managed to
come up with a few excellent Valentine’s Day gift suggestions that can
be purchased today at affordable prices and presented with pride to
loved ones everywhere.
Make it something red
It may be 2008, and everyone may own an MP3 player already, but that
is not to say that an adorable red iPod would not be a big hit when you
sit down to your romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. The 4GB iPod Nano will
lighten your wallet by $149, with the 8GB model retailing for $199. Many
who have come home empty handed in the past will tell you that it is a
bargain, especially when compared to the potential downside.
Any MP3 player can bring the tunes. The iPod Nano also delivers high
quality video on a surprisingly visible 2-inch diagonal screen. This
added feature can enhance the portable digital experience with a nearly
endless selection of movies, television and converted home video.
Precious stolen moments at work can now be spent catching up on favored
television programs or revisiting family occasions, cementing your
status as hero or heroine for a long time to come.
Are you Blu?
Last Tuesday’s primary elections may have cleared up some candidacy
issues, but they did little to help bring the war between Blu Ray and HD
formats to a conclusion. For my money, Blu Ray may be the way to go. I
say that mostly because my PS3 plays the new format, taking me out of
the market for the moment.
Those of you with techie partners who are just dying to jump into one
format or another will be happy to know that Blu Ray players for the
home entertainment system have dropped below the $400 mark. That is a
bit pricier than the HD rivals, but the thought that they may still be
in use this time next year lends a sense of comfort to the buying
decision. I took a look at the Sharp Aquos model at a well-known
consumer electronics retailer and decided that there could be a spot for
it in my system the next time I found myself with a full wallet.
For those who haven’t been keeping track, Blu Ray offers video
resolution about five times greater than DVD. This device will also play
your existing DVD collection along with a wealth of other digital
sources. It does make certain demands on your television, so be sure to
check with your favorite retailer before you carry one out of the store.
Exerting every mole of willpower I possess, I managed not to buy the
George Foreman Indoor-Outdoor Grill with iPod Dock for $169 and instead
found myself perusing the store’s selection of video games and consoles.
Play together, stay together
Lucky couples who both enjoy video games will not be at a loss for
gift ideas again this Valentine’s Day. Those households lacking a PS3,
for example, can take this opportunity to rectify the situation. My pick
for the best console currently on the market, the PS3 is enjoying robust
sales with its new features and reduced pricing structure. Now may be
the time to make the upgrade.
Dedicated PlayStation players may also enjoy a game based on the crooked
path walked by many in search of true love. I am referring to the broad
selection of games known as dating simulators. While many have themes
better suited to late-night dorm room tournaments, several
family-friendly games are still available in that popular genre.
My personal favorite, and a game that has enjoyed hundreds of hours of
playtime at stately Granese Manor, is the venerable Japanese import
“Tokimeki Memorial Taisen Tokkedama.” Sure, it’s all in Japanese, but
the story and game play are universal, as the falling balloon contest
tells the tale of schoolmates vying for a date with the cutest boy in
school. Stop into one of the area’s fine purveyors of used video games
and you might just get lucky.
If you are more inclined toward English Language gaming, fear not. The
Sims are ready and waiting to bail you out of your Valentine’s Day
dilemma for less than $50. Living your own life can be difficult.
Running someone else’s affairs is nothing short of fun in any of the
wildly popular titles in EA’s bestselling series “The Sims.”
Walk into just about any video game store or department and you should
be able to pick up a Sims title without trouble. If you cannot decide
which version to choose, look for “The Sims Complete Collection,” an
under-$40 medley that runs the gamut of Sim society, including the
totally appropriate Valentine’s Day selection “The Sims – Hot Date.”
Don’t forget man’s best friends
Last but not least, Valentine’s Day can be a good time to do
something nice for someone less fortunate. That someone need not be
human to appreciate your kind thoughts, as anyone who has been watching
the “DogTown” series on National Geographic can verify.
A quick click on
https://gifts.bestfriends.org/ can hook you up with a Best Friends
animal sponsorship. You can choose the animal of your choice, including
my adoptive canine, Hurricane Katrina survivor Ballsy. A couple bucks go
a long way toward providing a loving environment for an unfortunate
animal, and the good feelings last a long time. Best of all, you can
sponsor your favorite critter online in seconds and walk in the door
like you’ve been planning it for months.
The beauty of the Information Age is that there will always be some
device, gadget, or upgrade that you really, really want. On Valentine’s
Day, you’ve got a chance to share that beauty with someone important in
your life. I’m anxious to hear what kind of good loot was scored today,
so send an email detailing the new gear to
granese@juno.com.
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