The High-Tech Texan Holiday Gift Guide 2008

Another holiday season is here which means lots of gift ideas and choices. Whether you are shopping for that hard-to-please husband or looking to upgrade your gadgets, here is my annual list of goodies to consider.

Laptops and desktop PCs continue to get smaller, more powerful and less expensive so I’ve got a few suggestions. While gas prices are relatively low right now they probably won’t be hovering around $1.60 per gallon forever. So maybe it’s time for a hybrid vehicle - I found one you should really like.

A smartphone, a wireless way to the Internet, a new twist on a GPS device and even a few fun travel destinations will give you some ideas of what to give, what to ask for and where to go.

Cricket Wireless Broadband

The ability to surf the web from almost anywhere has been a long time coming. At first we had to be wired to a telephone cord. Then things got faster thanks to high-speed broadband connections. But if you wanted to download big files, like songs, while sitting in a park it would have been faster to run down to the store and buy the CD.

But leave it to the wireless companies to make everyone happy. Small cards and USB devices now can be popped in to laptop computers to send and receive data over their cellular signals. There’s no need to hunt for coffee shops or hotels to find Wi-Fi signals now. Just pull over to the side of the road, pop the device into your laptop, and start surfing faster than you were just driving.

The major wireless carriers all have their own data modems and plans, but the best bang for the buck is the new Cricket Broadband. This new service gives customers unlimited, high-speed, wireless Internet service anywhere in Cricket’s coverage areas.

Getting online is a snap. Pick up a USB Modem and sign up for wireless service (you can do it in Cricket stores or on their website). Load the installation disc into your Windows or Mac computer. Plug in the modem, launch the Quicklink software, and click Connect. Faster than you can chirp, you are surfing at super speeds.

As with Cricket’s cell phone plans, their Broadband customers do not have to sign a contract to take advantage of the unlimited monthly access. The service costs $35 per month for current Cricket cell phone customers and $40 per month for non-customers.

Blackberry Storm from Verizon Wireless

It’s the hottest gadget of the season and virtually sold out of stores when it was released on November 21. Touch screen, Blackberry email, what else is there to say? Oh yeah - a lot.

HP Mini-Note 2133

Who doesn’t need a portable computer? Laptops are a must-have for mobile professionals, but college kids use them more than fake IDs. Soccer moms can plan their schedules while sitting on the sidelines, and lounging inside and outside your home can now be productive and entertaining by toting a small, lightweight computer.

Speaking of small, laptop PC’s are quickly getting lighter and smaller than I did on Weight Watchers. And, like the energy and speed I gained from my new, svelte body style, these gadgets got faster and more powerful. So many of these new types of computers have popped up that a new category was created - the Netbook.

I have been using one of these lightweight, low-cost, energy-efficient machines for a while and enjoy it so much I may stop using my desktop PC. The HP Mini-Note 2133 is an impressive, full-function PC with the utmost mobility and durability - perfect for businesses And it’s a head turner. I get more comments about the Mini Note than my noticeably smaller waistline.

The specs speak for themselves: 2.6 pounds, Via C7-M processor, 1280×768 8.9-inch screen, full QWERTY keyboard that’s just 8 percent smaller than normal, and a variety of configurations starting at a low $499. All this in a 10″ x 6.5″ x 1.1″ form factor - smaller than a math or science school book. I maxed mine out with a 1.6GHz processor, 120GB drive and Vista Business, but that is how I roll.

To really trick the machine out and hang with cutting edge technology, HP offers a quicker, tougher and quieter solid state drive (SSD) option. As opposed to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), solid states drives are based on flash memory and therefore have no moving parts. SSDs offer several benefits: faster data access (including boot up time), longer battery run time, quieter and cooler operation, and more durability since SSDs are less likely to be damaged when you’re on the go.

The 2133 has several USB ports, SD card and ExpressCard/54 slots, headphone and microphone jacks, integrated Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth wireless technology. Because it is meant to be taken most everywhere, HP did a great job of making the 8.9″ diagonal WXGA display scratch-resistant. The all-aluminum case is durable and the internal magnesium alloy support structure helps protect sensitive components from damage.

One of the biggest complaints from laptop users is that the keys are so small typing becomes a hassle. You can cross that one off the list here as the Mini-Note features a 92 percent-size keyboard, treated with a special coating that HP claims makes the keys 50 times more resistant to visible wear than a standard keyboard. And it’s spill-resistant, as I found out when my 8 year-old son returned it to me.

So thanks to HP and my new diet and exercise regimen, thin is in. But I’m still jealous the Mini-Note 2133 gets more looks and comments than I do.

HP TouchSmart All-in-One PC

If reading my suggestion for a compact notebook PC still doesn’t convince you to go portable, then here is a product more in-line with a traditional desktop computer. Or is it?

It has monitor (and a large, gorgeous one at that). Full-sized keyboard. Mouse, CD/DVD drive, 5 USB ports. But where is the CPU - that gray or black tower that sits on the floor with cables and cords hanging out? Ta Da! Everything you need in a desktop PC is housed inside a clutter-busting, slim, stylish all-in-one designed unit.

The TouchSmart series has been a winner for HP for the past few years. Now their second-generation, touch-sensitive computers are finding ways to get out of home offices and into kitchens and other non-traditional places around the house. I never realized how valuable a PC in the kitchen could be until my family started leaving virtual notes (written with the touch of a finger on the screen), video messages and shared calendars.

When not in computing mode, the wide HD screen - available in 22″ and 25.5″ versions - can display photos, weather and news information and just look good sitting on the countertop. Several models are available starting at $1,300.

Saturn Vue Hybrid

An automobile on my Gift Guide? Why yes, Virginia, if has lot of features, doesn’t cost an arm-and-a-leg, plus can save money on gas while keeping the Earth a bit greener.

Hybrid mode autos are becoming more prevalent - especially as gas prices continue to fluctuate. Many manufacturers produce their own versions of hybrids, but Saturn does so many things so well I just had to point out the Vue.

The 2008 Saturn Vue hybrid has a MSRP of $28,625 - not only the lowest-priced hybrid SUV, but it has the best highway fuel economy of any SUV, coming in at 32 mpg. While hybrids generally get better mileage in city driving, the Saturn Vue has enough highway range (585 miles) to travel round trip from Dallas to San Antonio on one tank.

Technological features are obviously big for me. Available on the Vue: an automatic rain-sensing wiper system, remote start, heated windshield washer system, XM radio and an auxiliary audio jack for iPods/MP3 players.

I’ve got three kids so I know how much space is needed for schlepping families and gear. The Vue has lots of storage spaces, including a huge glove compartment big enough to hold a laptop computer. The front passenger seat folds flat, that allowing you to haul an eight foot-long kayak.

These are all great attributes I would look for in an SUV, but Saturn wants to impress me even more with the next model coming in the first quarter of 2009. The Saturn Vue will become the first hybrid to offer two hybrid options.

The Vue 2-Mode hybrid will be a true, non-compromise V6 hybrid, which will provide a 50% fuel economy improvement over the V6 Vue XR (which is rated at 17 city/24 highway). The Vue Green Line 2-Mode Hybrid will provide 262 hp and can go from 0 to 60 in about 7.3 seconds. Oh and it can tow up to 3,500 pounds for all you boaters and campers.

Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Watch

Other than playing with cool, new technology products and my kids, my other passion is running. Not that I am fast or will ever shatter land speed records, but I have run ten marathons and countless half marathons and other races. The only things I compete for are those race t-shirts and to beat my previous stats.

My first running watch kept track of my split and finish times, but thankfully technology has caught up. Those low-orbiting GPS satellites now do more than guide your car to a destination. They can provide instant feedback on almost everything happening during your run, hike and bike ride.

Garmin is the leader in GPS devices, and for active people like myself, they hit a homerun with the Forerunner 405. Loaded with tons of training features, it continuously monitors your time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate (when paired with heart rate monitor). Each run is stored in memory, so you can review and analyze the data to see how you’ve improved.

With so many features to monitor, the average user might find it difficult to navigate the menu and readouts. Garmin opted for the iPod way which is always a good thing. There are only two hard buttons on the right side of the watch and four places on the bezel to select the menus. To select the main menu, you simply put your finger at six o’clock. To select items within the menus, just do circular motions on the bezel the same way you would operate an iPod.

I usually run alone which can get boring, but the 405 comes with a virtual partner feature that will challenge you during runs. It is, of course, water-resistant and can be used outdoors or indoors - making it the ultimate year-round, all-weather training tool. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver sustains satellite reception better than the previous model so tall trees or city skyscrapers aren’t an issue.

But the cool stuff doesn’t end with your run. Using ANT+ technology, the Forerunner 405 sends workout data to your computer via automatic wireless data transfer. There’s no need to take off the watch or bother with cables as the computer automatically syncs with the device as soon as you enter the room. And the data transfer is a two-way street. Runners, joggers, cyclists and hikers can send courses, goals and workouts to watch before they begin, and then the data gets sent back to the user’s computer when the workout is over.

Athletes can log their workouts, track their totals, set goals, share workouts with coaches, friends and family, and participate in an online fitness community at Garmin’s online training site.

Two color options are available - I prefer the black to the green. The $299 sticker proves this is not just a toy, but a watch for almost all activities and every day wear. The only thing it doesn’t come with is a race t-shirt. But I already have enough of those.

Energizer Advanced Lithium and Ultimate Lithium Batteries

Quick...what's the first thing you need after opening your holiday gifts? No, not receipts. Batteries! After ripping open packages of remote control cars, walkie-talkies and handheld video games, I remember scouring through kitchen drawers looking for AA or AAA cells to power those gadgets. Moral to my story - plan ahead and get batteries so you and the kids can use those cool, new devices immediately.

I used to think all batteries were just batteries. But technology advances even in the world of portable power. Alkaline! Nickel Cadmium! Metal-Hydride! What could be better than these long-lasting cells?

Answer: Lithium. A few months ago I received a press release from Energizer touting two new lines of batteries called Energizer Advanced Lithium and Energizer Ultimate Lithium. I still assumed all batteries were just batteries until I actually put a pair of these new AA's into my Xbox 360 wireless controllers. The first thing I noticed was that the device was lighter than normal. That's because the Lithium series batteries weigh about 1/3 less than standard alkaline cells. Don't think that makes a difference? Tell me that after playing Madden for 6 straight hours.

Energizer claims the Advanced Lithium lasts up to 4x longer in digital cameras while the Ultimate Lithium lasts nearly 8x longer than their Energizer Max batteries. All I know is that I have yet to replace the cells I put in that Xbox controller last summer.

If you plan to use portable devices outside in extreme weather conditions, make note that these babies work well from -40º F to 140º F. Impressive for use with portable GPS units.

I love the fact that battery life continues to grow. The storage life for the Ultimate Lithium, according to Energizer, is 15 years while the Advanced Lithium is 10 years. After stocking up on a few dozen packs there is now no reason for me to scour through drawers looking for new batteries. These new cells should be around at least until my kids graduate college.

Travel Destinations

Though Texas is the only place for me, I frequently travel around the United States and sometimes abroad. Because I have media commitments (mostly my radio show) I generally turn my pleasure trips into business trips - if you consider broadcasting my show from exotic locales “work.”

2008 was a big year for my travels. I lost count the number of times I went to Las Vegas, and I do consider my January excursion to Sin City for the Consumer Electronics Show a business trip. My family enjoyed a 10-day cruise on the Mediterranean Sea including stops in seven countries. I could recommend visits to Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey, but considering the current economic situation there are more frugal places to spend time and have fun.

A favorite destination for me and my family over the past few years has been Breckenridge, Colorado. I actually just learned to ski, and the slopes up there reach over 10,000 feet with tons of great trails. Snowmobiling, sledding and just walking up and down the quaint shops on Main Street make this an incredible winter escape.

But the summertime in “Breck” is just as fun. My kids love playing on Peak 8 Fun Park, a summer wonderland of zip lines, mazes, acrobatic trampolines and a superfast sled track down the mountain. Biking trails in the region take you through the town and connect to nearby areas like Lake Dillon and Keystone.

When staying in Breckenridge my only choice is to rent a house. Be it a weekend getaway or a weeklong stay, private residences allow for plenty of room, fully-stocked kitchens and laundry rooms and just a comfortable place to kick back - specially when travelling with friends and family. Paragon Lodging offers the largest selection of home rentals - ranging from 3 bedroom cottages to gorgeous mansions owned by the rich-and-famous.

If you prefer tropics and sand rather than mountains, then it is about time to open your eyes to Belize. I spent four days in this Central American country and had no idea how relaxing it could be. Just a quick, two-hour flight from Houston, Belize is becoming a hot spot to vacationers.

You can fly into Belize City which is the capital but I recommend taking a quick island-hopper flight to Ambergris Caye is the place to be. Several resorts line this long, thin piece of land including Journey’s End. There’s no traffic hustle and bustle found here as the predominant mode of transportation is via water taxi or private boat service. Hotels, restaurants and shops have docks with a green/red light system. Head to the end of the dock and flick the green light on. A few minutes later a water taxi will whisk you up-and-down the key.