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How to Take Gadget Gifts and Make them Romantic

There is a common stereotype that techie types are not romantic, especially in the gift department. While this is rooted in a lot of truth, it doesn’t have to be so. Follow these simple recommendations and you are Guaranteed to Get You Some High-Tech Lovin’.

Ratings System

Good vs. Bad Partner Scale = You are a thoughtless cad who will be roundly criticized at your partner’s work tomorrow. = Typical lame thoughtless partner. Nobody will remember your “effort”. = You’re a hero. You will be talked about at your partner’s work tomorrow. = You’ll be calling in sore sick tomorrow.

NOTE: For the sake of simplicity, I will use the term “partner” for Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Husband, Wife, Life Partner, etc. Please substitute your title where appropriate.

Separating the Romeos from the Rejects

The little touches are what sets you apart. For starters, if their present has batteries, open it and charge them. If it uses memory, buy it and put it in the device. If the device stores personal information, load in some of their data/files. If there is a complicated set up process, do it for them. This is why their with you. You’re their personal I.T. department.
Think back to being a child and getting an awesome toy. Then, you had to wait for your parents to get around to setting it up for you. That just ruined it. Well imagine if you opened your gift, took it out and started playing with it on the spot. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Without Further Ado, Let’s Bring on the Gifts

iPhone – Ah the Cadillac of gadget gifts. ($200) This is a slam dunk, right? Not so fast Romeo. Here’s how it breaks down:
Get your own iPhone and show it to your partner over pizza dinner. Don’t forget to taunt their ugly old phone.
Get a gift certificate for an iPhone and don’t include a sincere and touching personal note in the card.
Buy them an iPhone, then, get it engraved with something sweet, funny, romantic, or sexy. Last I checked, engraving is still free.
Buy them an iPhone and do the following:

1. Unwrap it and Charge it (Nobody wants to take out their new toy and wait four hours for it to charge.)
2. Load in all of their phone numbers and addresses (You’ll have to go into stealth mode for this, but that’s what makes it so romantic.)
3. Make the home screen a romantic picture of the two of you
4. Have it set to play their favorite song when they turn it on

Let the geek lovin’ begin!

iPod Touch

Get them an off-brand “iPod killer” that they’ve never heard of, forcing them return it in a week when they realize that it sucks.
Give them an iPod still in the box and make them struggle through the setup process alone. Oooooh, sexy.
Unwrap it and Charge it – Load in a bunch of their favorite songs and make a playlist – Another nice idea is to make a few “themed” playlists like Work Out, Party, Sexy, you get the idea. Combine the previous step with this:

1. Take and load pictures of you holding up hand written signs with romantic notes on them
2. Load in a bunch of pictures of the two of you and anything else sentimental
3. Now, here’s the clincher: Have it set to play their playlist and slide show when they turn it on

You’re not getting any sleep tonight.

Nintendo Wii ($400 +/-)
Tell them that you can’t go out for Valentine’s Day because you’re going to a Lan Party at your friends house.
Buy them a Nintendo Wii. It’s good, but on its own, still just a video game.
Set up the Wii by building your partner’s Mii to look just like them. Buy them a game that matches something unique about their personality. Write the connection in your card.
Make them play the game with you and let them win, especially if they’re the world’s worst gamer. Then tell them that they won the rights to their “itinerary” for the rest of the night.

Easy to Use Digital Camera ($150 – $300)
Take a picture of them on Valetine’s Day morning (preshower) and put it on their MySpace page.
Buy them a new camera, unwrap and Charge it, Put in the Memory, Learn how to use some of the key features.
Then, keep it in your pocket so that you can take a picture of them unwrapping the empty box. Now, that magical moment is captured forever. (Use it against them the next time they say that you’re not romantic.)
Combine with the previous step: Take and load pictures of you holding up hand written signs with romantic notes on them.

*Nice extra touch*
Get them a Flickr or even a Flickr Pro account and set up everything on their computer so that they can instantly start loading up their pictures. ($25)

Digital Picture Frame to show off their favorite pictures ($50 – $150)
Give them a plain old picture frame with the picture from the store.
Buy them a digital picture frame that neither of you can figure out how to use.
Buy them a cool picture frame, put in the Memory, Learn how to use some of the key features.
Then, keep it in your pocket so that you can take a picture of them unwrapping the empty box. Now, that magical moment is captured forever. (Use it against them the next time they say that you’re not romantic.)
Combine with the previous step: Take and load pictures of you holding up hand written signs with romantic notes on them

Make a Romantic Memories Calendar ($25)
Tell them that the time that you have spent together feels like it has aged you in dog years.
Buy them one of those calendars from the middle of the mall with something that they like (Dogs, Cats, mountains, etc.) Boring!
Make them a calendar with pictures of yourselves, your friends, and families.
Make them a calendar at XXXXX using photos of things that you did together. Put the pictures on the month that they occurred. Then, write a hand written memo on days in each month with things that you did together on those days. Don’t forget to add the years in. Now, your partner will have a year’s worth of memories to revisit. Yes, this is a ton of work, but that’s the whole point. I did this for my wife for our first anniversary (paper) and she loved it.
Cost – $25.00
Time – 18 hours
Value – Priceless

Exernal USB Hard Drive $100 – $200

Install Linux on their machine and format their whole drive, because Linux is way better than Windows.
Buy them a backup drive and tell them that they should backup once a week. Then, don’t help them do it.
Set up the drive on their computer. You’re not done yet. Now, set up a dead-simple backup program to protect their valuable data.
Pretend that you didn’t find all of their porn while you were poking around.

Tickets to an Event that THEY Would Like (The sky is the limit)
Tell your partner that you’re going to see your college basketball team play on Valentine’s Day. (And they like the ballet.)
Take them to dinner and a movie.
Buy tickets to an event that they like and you typically don’t. Then, go with them. Do your homework before the event. If it’s a play, then find out what the play is about and read some reviews of the play. Then, on the way to the play talk about why you’re excited to go. It’s a great feeling when your partner gets excited about your stuff. Tell them how much you enjoyed sharing it with them.
Get some screen savers, ring tones, or what ever for their phone. Score some limited access perks for the event. You know, backstage passes, a meet and greet with key people, get their name put on the scoreboard – anything that gives them an “it’s all about me” moment.

What, You don’t think I have any low priced ideas on this list? Cheap Bastards need lovin’ too!

Get them their favorite books ($10 and up)
Tell them that, “Reading books is stupid, because they’ll just make it into a movie any way.”
Buy them a subscription to the Book of the Month club.
Buy them a book on a topic of interest (Sports, Poetry, Theater, History, whatever). If you can find some way to get it signed, that’s a huge bonus. If not, write a personal note in the inside cover. Give them a gift certificate for one undisturbed hour a night for the next two weeks to let them read it.
Tell them that you are going to read the book when they’re finished and discuss it with them. Then, actually do it. Pays off now, Pays off later. That’s two for the price of one.

E-Book reader and load it with a few books. $400

Have a Romantic Movie Night

Make them watch your Pulp Fiction DVD after dinner on Valentine’s Day.
Get them a Netflix account.
Buy them a few of their favorite movies, or movies that they have been dying to see.
Get movies that you would never go to with them and make a special date to watch them together. Don’t complain, and try to actually enjoy the show. Then, you can discuss it with them afterwards. Believe me.

Geeky T-Shirts ($15 – $25) ThinkGeek and Jinx.com both have a huge selection of great T-shirts for geeks and their lovers Use their favorite T-shirt to clean up a sloppy mess that you made. Buy them a T-shirt for their favorite band, team, school, etc. Get them an I heart My Geek shirt and tell them that you love them for putting up with all of your techno-obsessive flights of fancy. Give them the shirt wrapped around you. No other clothing is required. (Probably not as sexy if you’re a dude.)

Other Gift Ideas

If you don’t like any of theses gadgets, try my Electronics Gadgets Christmas Gift Buying Guide article. There are a bunch of other cool suggestions.

For the Road Warriors

Who couldn’t use a new computer? How about an additional inexpensive one for the household? What if your gift recipient already has a computer? Then you can grab them the perfect accessory or upgrade to help them get the most out of it.

Pink Tranquility Laptop Bag Just because they’re carrying computers doesn’t mean that women want their laptop bag to look ugly. Pick up a stylish, feminine laptop bag for the lady geek.

Price: $25

Targus Netbook Case Wrap up that new netbook in style. Let a fancy new bag add some sheik to that geek.

Price: $25

Gadgets, Technology Gadgets, Movies, Music

2010 Technology Wish List

2009 Was OK, But Things Can Get ALOT Better

2009 is almost over and I’m making my technology wish list for 2010. Being that it’s a “WISH” list, I decided to shoot for the stars. in order fro 2010 to be the best year ever in tech, here’s what I want.

iPhone – My Biggest Joy and Disappointment

The iPhone plays a huge role in my IT infrastructure. It bridge the gap between the VitaminCM global headquarters and the vast wastelands that lie outside my door. Sometimes I actually have to go out and mingle with the great unwashed hordes. Gasp! While there are so many things to love about my trusty companion, here is what I desperately wish for:

• AT&T to get a decent network
• Verizon to get the iPhone
• Flash and JAVA support – It’s flippin’ 2010 already!
• Support for a Bluetooth Keyboard (No, I don’t want to Jailbreak my phone.)
• Front and back Video Cameras so I can gitz my Skype video conference on.

Read more…

Miscellaneous Ramblings 2009, 2010, apple, christmas gift gadget, Gadgets, iPhone, Software, technology wish list, web applications

Finding the Perfect Travel Companion

I have a birthday coming up and I’m gong to treat myself to a new Netbook computer. I really want a super small machine that I can carry everywhere in my bag. I want to be able to write, check email, read my RSS feeds, etc. There are a lot of things that can be done with very minimal software and web-based applications. The biggest problem that I have is the storage. A few gigs is just not enough for my needs. I want one with a real hard drive that has lots of storage. I don’t need a top notch gaming rig, but I do need all of my photos, music, and files.

It seems like there is a new Netbook announced every day. Asus EEE, MSI Wind, HP Mini Note, Dell Inspiron Mini, and on and on and on. They all look so cute, small, and fun.

I’ve looked at many in person and all of them (I think) online and I still can’t make a decision.  There are a few that made a great impression, but they all have some flaw(s) that scares me away.

Here is the most thorough blow-by-blow Netbook comparison that I’ve seen.

Cnet’s Crave has a Top 10 List comparing some of the top Netbooks in the field.

I have it narrowed down to a few contenders:

HP Mini Note

Dell Inspiron Mini

MSI Wind

Asus EEE PC 901

Asus EEE PC 1000

Poll of the Week:

If you have any helpful advice, please add it in the comments below. This is a tough decision and I could certainly use the help.

Don’t Miss the Seeing Which Selection I Make

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Gadgets, Technology asus, computer, dell, Gadgets, hp, laptop, msi, netbook, pc, poll

Strong Enough for a Man, but Made for a Woman

I read a lot of Tech and Gadget sites (198 feeds and counting) and 95% of them are written by men, for men. That’s great, if you’re a guy (which I am). What about the ladies? Don’t they deserve some Gadget Love? Don’t they want to know what’s going on with Facebook, Google, or Apple? Sure they do!

It just so happens that there are a bunch of excellent Tech and Gadget blogs written by women, with women in mind. Here’s my little secret: They’re usually pretty cool for guys too. At least this guy.

If there’s a special lady in your life (or if you are one) that likes her tech without a side of testosterone, here are a few sites for her.

Read more…

Gadgets, Media, Web Surfing blog, female, gadget, Gadgets, Tech, Technology, website women and gadgets, women

Big, Beautiful Zoom and Screen Look and Feel Good

My wife bought me a Panasonic Lumix TZ3 Camera for Christmas. (She must have read my 28 Great Christmas Gifts article.) I was torn between this and a Canon Powershot G9. The Canon G9 allows you to attach external lenses and flash, plus it shoots Raw images. The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 is smaller, cheaper, and has a 10x zoom. It was a toss up. My wife made the final decision for me. (Her and the price tags.)I’ve spent a little time with it and I’m ready to pass judgement. Read more…

Gadgets, Product Reviews, Technology camera, Gadgets, review

Nice Try, BUT, You Forgot a Few Things

I read all of the rumors for the last few weeks about the funny looking Nano, the iPhone 2, and every other thing. I secretly hoped that I would get what the iPhone made me really want. A world class Portable Media / PDA / Internet Tablet all in one. (NO PHONE, I hate the idea of that thing as a phone!)

Well what did the sultan of the mock-T give me? The Finger A big, beautiful touch screen iPod that is just about useless as a Portable Media Device. The PDA part is pretty close to what I wanted and the Internet Tablet is still a “Walled Garden” of Safari disappointment.

So now, I have the need for MORE capacity and I’m given LESS. All to say that it is thinner than Nicole Richie after she refunds her lunch.

Useless Portable Media Device? How can that be, it’s an iPod, and you almost tried to marry your current iPod? Well, here it is; The thing only has 16 gigs of storage. My third generation, black and white, music only iPod had 40 gigs back in 2003. Now, this thing has that gorgeous, huge screen that cries out for two things: High Quality Video and Lucious Photos. What do those two things have in common – You guessed it, BIG FILE SIZE. So now, I have the need for MORE capacity and I’m given LESS. All to say that it is thinner than Nicole Richie after she refunds her lunch. Was anyone’s iPod Video just way too fat? I don’t know, mine seems perfect. I’d even settle for a few more millimeters if they were packed with Songs, Movies, Photos, and Useful Applications.

Useful Applications, let’s talk about that for a minute. You really don’t need that much storage for applications, because YOU STILL CAN”T LOAD ANY REAL SOFTWARE onto this miracle of modern technology. So now I have a Ferarri that is not allowed to drive on the highway. Thanks! Open up the damn platform and let me put some cool software on the thing. It could be like a Palm Pilot with an attractive interface.

Another thing that I would allow a few more millimeters of girth for is GPS. It fits in the tiniest of cell phones, how much room could it take up? That would be great, plop it up on the dashboard of my car, let the music play through my stereo while magical turn-by-turn directions danced across the screen, all the while being charged by my car’s battery. Sorry, not gonna happen.

OK, here’s what I want out of a non-phone iPod:

• iPod Touch screen and interface
• 160 Gigs of Storage on a Hard Drive
• GPS with a cool Application
• Open platform for Third Party Apps
• Bluetooth that will connect to my Cell Phone
• Better Browser
• Skype

Now, listen to me Steve, roll up the sleeves on that mock-T and get to work on building me something usefull. When you’re done, I just might genuflect and kiss your ring. Until then, don’t schedule another one of your useless Dash-My-Hopes-Again dog and pony shows.

See my previous article on Why Unlocking the iPhone is Pointless

Update: I guess Scoble agrees with me, Check out his Open Letter to Steve Jobs.

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Gadgets, Miscellaneous Ramblings, Technology apple, Gadgets, iPod, mp3, touch, Video, wifi