Comments on: Where are you spending your tech dollars this holiday season?

By: Joanna Cabot

Joanna Cabot — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:12:02 +0000

I want the iPhone (as opposed to a Touch) because it will amalgamate several gadgets into one: I can get rid of both my aging Blackberry phone (which can’t handle much internet) and my iPod Touch (which I love, but why have two devices when I can have one?)

As for computers, that may be next year. My Macbook is still going strong, but I only use it as a library for iTunes and Calibre these days. When it goes, I think I can easily replace it with a much cheaper Windows-based laptop. Since I don’t use it as much, I don’t care as much as I can save my money for the mobile devices I use much more often.

For me, it is about function. I already have a lot of iOS devices, so I am not inclined to start from scratch with Android when I am ready to go with iOS. And I do have a Kindle I love, but I can’t read it in bed, so the Kobo Glo does have a feature which would improve my experience. I don’t want it because it’s new, I want it because it has a feature that will improve my experience

One of the ways we budget for the toys in our house is by waiting until Christmas. We stash our coins in the jar all year and then wait for the sales.

By: Hayden Johnstone

Hayden Johnstone — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 03:02:20 +0000

I am not the sort of person that waits till the holidays to upgrade my toys. I have an android tablet that is over a year old and is working fine. The same goes for the one year old smartphone. My wife has an Ipad2 and an old smartphone and she is happy with both of them. My 2 year old e-ereader is still doing its main goal so I still have no need to upgrade. My macbook is 4 years old and although it is coughing and wheezing like a 75 year old asthmatic, it is still doing its job. This may need to be replaced but while it is still going I will persevere with it. My poor macbook is suffering. I have had to replace a battery, the cooling fan, the hard drive a power supply and the DVD drive does not work. The audio jack is temperamental and the track pad is there for aesthetic purposes.

I find that most new gadgets offer small incremental improvements which I don’t really need. I would hate to be the sort of person that gets annoyed with my current devices when new models comes out. I did have a laugh when I heard that the people who bought Ipad3s were upset with Apple when the new Ipad came out last month. They have this amazing new Ipad which does amazing things but it is not enough for them. I guess that they are the sort of people who buy the latest toys just to show off that they have them.

With either an Apple or Android device, most of the experience comes from the apps, not the devices themselves. Perhaps we could put down what sort of new app we would like to get for our toys.

This year’s holiday season sees us and our two children going on a one month overseas vacation. I think they will get much more out of this trip than upgrading our toys.

My next toys will depend on when my current ones expire. The Kobo glow looks really nice as a stand alone ereader. For phones and tablets I prefer the android system, but I don’t need top of the line products. I will look at mid-range products which are more value for money than the new Samsung IIIs or Galaxy Notes. I guess that is the same reason that people recommend the Iphone 4s. It did not come out too long ago so it still has to be a very good device. You still get access to all of Apple’s apps which is what you really need.

If the macbook does finally give up the ghost, then I will look into a new windows laptop. After they way Acer repaired my son’s laptop with no fuss and nothing but great service, I may need to look into their line of products

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:01:52 +0000

Instead of upgrading your phone, why not get the latest iPod Touch? I use the Touch because I have wifi at home and at work and I don’t care to spend so much on monthly phone charges. (I use a pay-as-you-go Go Phone which gives me cellular access for $8 a month.)

The latest Touch has most of the advanced features of the iPhone 5 including retina display not found on the iPad Mini.

By: Joanna Cabot

Joanna Cabot — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:32:38 +0000

Catana, we do our share of that too. That’s not really the subject of this blog though

By: Catana

Catana — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:13:35 +0000

How about helping people who are homeless and/or hungry instead of buying more gadgets that you probably don’t need?

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:21:53 +0000

Definitely yes on the iPhone. A couple of years ago, my daughter inadvertently laundered hers. She also had an Android phone provided by her employer so decided to limp along with that and just keep the kids on her personal contract till it was over. I cannot tell you how thrilled she was when its time was up and she could get another iPhone. A year with Android was not wonderful for her. I do understand that because I had an iPad before the Kindle Fire and have never bonded with the Android system after enjoying iOS, and also found out that I really like the larger screen of the regular iPad.

By: Nitin Khanna

Nitin Khanna — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:52:22 +0000

Hey, here’re my recommendations –

I don’t know how big a fan of the Nintendo you are, but I’d recommend against getting the 3DS. I have not used/own/played with one of them, but if there’s a chance that you can get the iPad Mini instead, go for it. There are a lot of benefits to owning that pretty device, one of which is the surge of games on it. For example, He-man came out on iOS recently and made my day…

As for the iPhone, if you’re sure you’re not going for the latest one, then go for the iPhone 4S, not the 4. It’s a lot better/faster for the price.

Enjoy the season!