Sunday | 23 November, 2008
Cool stuff: Your 2007 holiday gift guide
More than 50 amazing gifts for the technology lovers in your life
Computerworld Staff 06/12/2007 12:40:36
Page:

One great use for the Grex is to burn backup copies of DVD movies to take on a car trip with the kids or on a plane on a business trip so you don't have to worry about losing or damaging the original discs.

Price: US$89 (online orders preferred)
Summary: Here's a small, easy-to-install device that makes it simple to transfer your old VHS tapes onto DVDs and to make backup copies of copyright-protected DVD movies you already own.
Todd R. Weiss

LP-to-CD recorder: DAK System

Along the same lines, here's a gift that will get the music lovers on your list into the 21st century by providing a way to convert favorite LPs, 78s and 45s -- even reel-to-reel or cassette tapes -- into great-sounding CDs or MP3s that are ready for mobile music players.

The LP to CD System (US$219) from DAK Industries includes a turntable with an aluminum platter, tone-arm lift, tone-arm balancing system and antiskate control for good audio quality, as well as a specially designed preamp mixer box, customized DAK conversion software, cables, a detailed online tutorial and good e-mail technical support. (It can also be purchased for US$70 without the turntable if you want to use your own.)

Plug it all into the line-in jack on your computer's sound card using the detailed video instructions available online, download the two needed software applications from DAK's Web site, and you'll be set to go after watching the online tutorials. (Laptop users need an additional US$39 USB line-in jack.) There is a learning curve, but 30 to 60 minutes of practice will produce great CD recordings of your old albums.

Once recorded and saved, you separate the tracks using the software, and can then save them in WAV or MP3 formats. It works right out of the box, and the sound quality is great, almost as if you are listening to the albums but without the pops and clicks, thanks to software that filters them out.

Not all the music you want is available on CDs, but it might be sitting right there in your closet. With this system, any audiophile can burn CDs from albums with great results.

Price: US$219, or US$69.90 without turntable
Summary: Know an audiophile who wants to convert old vinyl record albums into CDs and MP3s? Here's the perfect gift.
Todd R. Weiss

Computing and home office

Nothing brings a smile to a giftee's face faster than unwrapping a shiny new laptop computer. And on the extremely practical side, consider giving peace of mind in the form of fast networking, protection from Internet threats or secure online backups.

Laptop: Apple MacBook

Looking for the best all-around laptop? Your first -- and last -- stop should be your nearest Apple Store to check out the MacBook line.

The MacBooks, which start at US$1,099 and run up to US$1,499, recently got a mild speed boost, a new graphics chip and, best of all, a new operating system -- Mac OS X 10.5, better known as Leopard. More speed, new apps, no price change. They'll even do Windows using Apple's Boot Camp software, included in Leopard.

The basic model and the midrange version come in shiny white. The top-end model comes in flat black, but you'll pay a premium for the Darth Vader look.

Page:
Computerworld Buyer's Guide - Vendors Matched to this Article
TippingPoint , Unixpac , Sourcefire , Kensington , Citrix , Adaptec , HAL Data Services , Dimension Data , Trend Micro , SafeNet , Revelation Software , GFI , SonicWALL , nCircle , Red Hat , MessageLabs , CA , 3Com
More about SLI-Consulting, Pure Digital, Alienware, T-Mobile, TiVo, On Command, Motorola, Roku, Rock, IBM, Epson, EPSON, Olympus, Audible, Archos, eBay, Google, BlackBerry, Consumer Electronics, Speed, Plantronics, MSN, WowWee, Bill, Motion, Lexus, Roku, Canon, Bose, Apple, Exposure, AT&T, Macs, RCA, AT&T, PLUS, NASA, Dell, Napster, SEC, Linksys, VIA, Circuit City, D-Link, ADVENT, Panasonic, Messenger, Yahoo, American Power Conversion, Intel, Samsung, LP, Marsh, Garmin, Pixar, Linux, Playstation, BMW, APC, Casio, Sonos, Legend, Xbox, Sony, Nintendo, Pulsar, Nvidia, HIS Limited, Nikon, Logitech, Brother, Skype, Harmonix, Creative Technology, Creative
USB Doomsday Device Hub, courtesy of ThinkGeek.
USB Doomsday Device Hub, courtesy of ThinkGeek.
View all images
  • 605 WiFi, courtesy of Archos.
  • Aurvana X-Fi, courtesy of Creative Technology.
  • Nüvi 200, courtesy of Garmin.
  • G'zOne Type-S, courtesy of Casio.
  • Lumix DMC-TZ3, courtesy of Panasonic.
  • Stylus 790W, courtesy of Olympus.
  • Exilim EX-Z77, courtesy of Casio.
  • Sonos Digital Music System, courtesy of Sonos.
  • Squeezebox, courtesy of Slim Devices/Logitech.
  • SoundBridgeRadio, courtesy of Roku.
  • iHome Clock Radio for iPod, courtesy of SDI Technologies.
  • Bravia KDL-46V3000, courtesy of Sony.
  • DAK LP to CD System, courtesy of DAK.
  • Area-51 m9750, courtesy of Alienware
  • WRT600N router, courtesy of Linksys.
  • SecureSpot, courtesy of D-Link.
  • Back-UPS ES 750, courtesy of APC.
  • The Wii, courtesy of Nintendo.
  • Rock Band, courtesy of Harmonix.
  • Alive Elvis, courtesy of WowWee.
  • Roboquad, courtesy of WowWee.
  • SensorfreshQ, courtesy of FQSI
  • i-SOBOT, courtesy of Tomy.
  • USB Chocolate MP3 Player, courtesy of Brando.
  • Yubz Talk Online, courtesy of Yubz.
  • Singing Alarm Clock, courtesy of Edmund Scientific.
  • USB Roll-Up Drum Kit, courtesy of Brando.
  • iPhone/iPod 8-in-1 FM Transmitter, courtesy of USB Fever.com.
  • USB Doomsday Device Hub, courtesy of ThinkGeek.
  • LX200R GPS-enabled telescope, courtesy of Meade.
  • BMW 5 Series sedan, courtesy of BMW.
  • The Blue Gene/P installation at Argonne National Lab outside of Chicago, courtesy of IBM.
Computerworld Buyer's Guide - Vendors Matched to this Article
TippingPoint , Unixpac , Sourcefire , Kensington , Citrix , Adaptec , HAL Data Services , Dimension Data , Trend Micro , SafeNet , Revelation Software , GFI , SonicWALL , nCircle , Red Hat , MessageLabs , CA , 3Com
Related Features
  • +

    Making Workflow Work and Flow for You 11/12/2007 13:08:40

    Workflow isn’t rocket science, but it isn’t magic either. While workflow can make major improvements in the way an organization runs, it achieves that goal only when its principles are applied correctly. We explain the success factors and the benefits that the process can provide.
    Workflow isn't rocket science, but it isn't magic either. While workflow can make major improvements in the way an organization runs, it achieves that goal only when its principles are applied correctly. We explain the success factors and the benefits that the process can provide.
  • +

    Blog: Biology and Engineering 07/12/2007 12:28:04

    Usually engineers feel no special need to imitate nature's solutions to their problems (assuming there are any). Transport engineers do not think much about legs, nor structual engineers about tree trunks.
  • +

    How to Create and Execute an Employer-Centric Job Search Strategy 05/12/2007 10:37:39

    Job seekers at all levels are going about their searches all wrong. Instead of sending out résumés willy-nilly, they need to focus their effort on the employers who will be most receptive to hiring them.
    Job seekers at all levels are going about their searches all wrong. Instead of sending out resumes willy-nilly, they need to focus their effort on the employers who will be most receptive to hiring them.
  • +

    Blog: Eeek! The Web without JavaScript 04/12/2007 12:26:01

    There are good reasons to insist that developers take extra time to make Web sites accessible-such as enabling it for the screen readers that blind users need-not the least of which is ADA legislation. But who's paying attention to making a site run well without JavaScript? It might be more necessary than you imagine.
  • +

    Guiding Your IT Department on the Road to Change 04/12/2007 10:30:09

    After two mergers, the CIO of logistics provider YRC Worldwide had to carefully apply change leadership techniques to blend three IT departments into one.
    After two mergers, the CIO of logistics provider YRC Worldwide had to carefully apply change leadership techniques to blend three IT departments into one.
Additional Resources
Executive Guides
Whitepapers
white paper Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services.
Zones
Zone logoZones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.
Newsletter Subscription
Sign up for our Computerworld newsletters!
RSS Feeds
Market Place
Taking on Demand CRM Integration to the next level.
HP webcast: Learn how to get the best value out of your network
Discover best practice strategies for the archival and removal of .PST files using email archiving
Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Enterprise Planning.
CRM Webcast: Learn how to find a CRM solution that fits into your existing business environment. View now.
Reduce costs, secure data, ensure compliance with Identity Management
Beat the credit crunch. 0% for 24 months. Just for small business. Offer ends 24th Dec!
Learn how to prioritize services with IT Service Management (ITSM). Watch the Computerworld webinar now!

 

Smart SOA World Tour

Discover how SOA can create smarter outcomes for your business.

Attend and learn:

  • How SOA is helping leading companies to become more agile
  • Where you should be applying SOA processes in your company
  • The top SOA implementation mistakes to avoid

Click here for more information.
Get a job Careerone
Whitepaper


Read Whitepaper

Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Enterprise Planning

No matter how good its products or innovative its services, no organization can perform to its full potential without an adequate planning structure in place. Discover how this can be done by reading on.

Enterprise IT Buyer's Guide
Find Technology Vendors Fast
 
Find vendors by name | Find by category
Sponsored Links