Xmas is a time of giving and sharing; and technology is particularly popular as a gift in the 21st century. However, while most of the population would love to get any sort of electronic device, a true enthusiast is far more discerning. If you are reading this website, you are probably already ahead of the curve. However, it wouldn’t hurt to email this article to relatives who are still shopping for gifts that might end up in your hands.
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USB Flash Drive
USB flash drives are great devices. We love having them. But there is also too much of a good thing. Over our careers in the tech media industry we have collectively accumulated and promptly lost enough storage to contain all the knowledge of the world. The rest of the world isn’t too different. These devices go missing so quickly that one might assume that some new breed of toyol has a USB drive fetish.
Not to mention that the average tech geek will probably need more than the average 8GB storage to move anything of value.
Any Smartwatch
Smartwatches were the big shiny new toy of 2013. It even looks great as a gift because your average tech geek loves the idea of a wrist mounted computer; while not already owning one. However, this does not mean that you should do the right thing and buy them a smartwatch.
We’ve covered the Samsung Galaxy Gear in a full review. Even our most forgiving writer thought that it still needs work; despite Samsung putting out updates to make the watch work as advertised. The worst part? The Galaxy Gear is considered to be the best of the new smartwatches. Maybe put this one on the list for Christmas 2014 instead.
For reference, this list includes the Samsung Galaxy Gear, Sony Smartwatch 2, and Pebble.
Windows RT
Windows 8 isn’t nearly as bad as many people make it out to be. All it takes is a little effort and intelligence to learn how it works. Windows RT on the other hand, removes all the useful parts of Windows in the hopes that it will still work on tablets. It still looks like Windows, and will serve annoying quiet reminders the differences. Mostly when you try to use regular programs and they don’t work.
However, Chapree has pointed out that the Nokia Lumia 2520 is a great Windows RT device. Fortunately, it won’t be released for the holiday season this list can remain intact without any exceptions.
HP Notebook
This isn’t because we have something against HP. On the contrary, we actually have quite a few of its notebooks in the office. The issue here is that these notebooks managed to develop crippling problems about a year after buying them. Of the four we have, only two are still working. While it would be a nice gesture to give someone a notebook, it would also be nice if those notebooks are still working a year later.
Compact Disks
Ten years ago, CDs were the best thing to ever happen to computers. Now, a full decade later, these things still exist. Worse, some people still think that they are being helpful by buying their friends stacks of CDs. Do not make this mistake. It’s even worse than gifting a USB drive, because at least the USB version can be used to transfer some files before going horribly missing.
DVDs are still a valid alternative, but only for people with jobs that require moving large amounts of data. Like photographers or videographers.
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