Computer Christmas Gifts
by Dave Clingman
 

Published in Guadalajara Reporter,
December 19, 2009

Christmas and Dia de los Santos Reyes (Three Kings Day, January 6th) are nearly upon us, and you still don't know what to give?  Well, read on for some ideas.

The first thing you should get, whether for yourself or someone else, is a voltage regulator.  (see Pete Johanson's Tech Talk, June 26, 2009)  The electricity where I live varies wildly, and Mexico's normal voltage is higher than in USA and Canada.  Many electronics these days can handle voltage that varies significantly, but for a few hundred pesos, you can protect your computer and other sensitive electronics.  Borrow someone's voltage tester to see that your regulator is doing its job.  I tried three regulators before I found one that worked properly.

With Skype or another VOIP program (see Bits & Bytes, July 17, 2009), a person can talk to anyone anywhere in the world for free.  If your gift recipient doesn't have a web cam (so that others can see them on Skype) suggest they use their digital camera.  No digital camera?  Be sure the one you give them can do both.  And while you're setting them up for video conferencing, give them a VOIP headset, so that the communication is clear.

If your recipient has paper photographs and slides, you might give a scanner which can convert them to digital format.  Not all scanners do slides, but the price difference between one that does and one that doesn't is relatively small.

A digital frame, which looks like a regular paper photo frame but changes from one digital picture to the next, is a fun way to share pictures with others.  A flash drive allows your recipient to carry files (including photos and videos) in a pocket, ready to plug it into any other computer for sharing.

Everyone needs a way to back up important files.  A DVD burner does more than just play or copy movies.  It can also copy files for safe storage or for sharing with others.  An external hard drive can also backup data, and many include software that does everything automatically.
Perhaps your recipient needs software or loves games.  OpenOffice.org provides a program very similar to Microsoft Word.  Free software is available at www.download.com.  Perhaps they need an additional piece of hardware for their games, such as a joystick, or flight simulator pedals, or a gaming headset (They can use the VOIP headset you gave them).  Maybe their notebook computer could use a cooling pad.

Still can't decide what to give?  Wander the Electronics Mall in downtown Guadalajara (16 de Septiembre, one block south of Juarez) or the new Best Buy stores (Plaza Galerias, or La Ciudadela mall).  You're sure to find something for even the fussiest person.

Back to Index of Articles

Read previous article

Read next article

© 2000-2010

Cheap website design, inexpensive website design, cheap website hosting, inexpensive website hosting, cheap web hosting, inexpensive web hosting.
Coarsegold computer repair and in home computer help in Coarsegold, California.  Virus removal in Coarsegold.  Network setup in Coarsegold.  Web Design in Coarsegold.  Computer instruction in Coarsegold.  Fresno computer repair, Fresno computer service, computer repair, network service, HP, Hewlett Packard, Okidata, Lexmark, IBM, Xerox, Citrix, Avaya, Axis, Apple, IronPort, SBC, Arrival, Covad, Gobeam, VOIP, wireless, service center, service provider, warranty service, service & support, Computer Service Fresno, Service in Fresno, Fresno Computer Support, Fresno Computer Repair, Service, Computer, Service Fresno, Computer Service, repair, upgrades and training, Computers-Networks in Fresno, Computer Services, Computer Dealers, Covering Central California, Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings Counties Clovis Oakhurst Coarsegold Visalia Tulare Merced Reedley Selma Sanger Kerman Hanford, Microsoft, Cisco, APC, Altiris, Veritas, Symantec, Morton, Mcafee, CA, Watchguard, SonicWall, Pix, router, routers, switches, computer cabling, managed services, managed care, network management