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Dec. 8, 2006
A high-tech Chanukah
New gadgets and games are on offer this season.
EVA COHEN
For many years, November and December have been the months to reveal
the newest that technological advancements have to offer, and 2006
is no different. With all the selection on the market, how is one
to choose what to get their loved ones?
This year, the mp3 player has made a huge jump in its data storage
abilities and is a safe bet as a gift for any age group if you have
a bit of a budget. Apple iPods are one of the hottest items on the
market and come in a variety of colors. Where last year, 1GB of
memory was deemed a huge amount, this year, 4GB is considered standard
memory size. The iPod Nano starts at $219 and ranges up to the Apple
80GB iPod Movie at almost $400. Add-on accessories include speaker
systems, wireless FM transmitter and an array of ear phones. Competitive
brands such as RCA and Sony also offer mp3 player options.
Also, don't forget that phones now have music player options for
the person in your life who is always on the go and multi-tasking.
Rogers Wireless, Bell and other services now carry phones that hold
up to 4GB of memory for music and have built-in digital cameras
with real picture quality at 3.2 megapixels.
Another staple for the past few years on everyone's holiday wish
list has been the basic digital camera. For this item, prices have
gone down dramatically and it is possible to get a high-quality
camera for a low price. On the lower end, HP offers a small $100
option called Photosmart, which captures a 5.0MP image. Sony, Canon,
Pentax and other brands offer mid- to high-end cameras with 6.0MP
or higher at prices that range from $200 to more than $1,000 with
a built-in camcorder. For this item, quality is mostly standardized
from one brand to the next so the choices are largely about style:
whether the person you are getting it for would want a shiny sleek
model, a more boxy one, what color, etc.
For the gamer in your family, the XBOX 360 is on the shelves just
in time for the holidays. You may have seen the striking advertisements
on TV or at the movie theatres and the grand price is $499 (with
its bundle of accessories). The PSP Entertainment Pack scans in
at slightly less with a price tag of almost $300 and is suitable
for the anti-XBOX crowd. Nintendo is also in on the competition
with their Wii. A slew of new games, which range anywhere from $20
to $60, have been released for all gaming systems.
Sound systems are always a great gift but for those who already
have the toys, some good old-fashioned music will still knock their
socks off. Several artists have released CDs just in time to sit
beside the chanukiyah, including Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape,
U2's U218 Singles and Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong.
Whether it be large or small, expensive or a great deal, a tech
gift has the variety that enables you to choose a gift that seems
like it has been personalized just for that special person on your
list.
Eva Cohen is a freelance writer living in Ottawa.
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