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  • An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Torm�

    • 10 out of 10
    • Mel Torm� & George Shearing
    • Of the three men who taught me how to sing, the last was Mel Torme. Apparently, Mel Torme is a joke to anyone more than a decade older than me, a living parody of a Vegas crooner. But I stumbled on th
  • Trouble

    • 8 out of 10
    • Ray LaMontagne
    • At first, Ray LaMontagne might strike you as just another breathy-voiced knockoff of folk/rock guitarists like John Mayer and Jack Johnson. But he's actually got a better voice than either, he tell

  • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

    • 8 out of 10
    • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
    • When I first got hooked to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the only place I could get their debut album, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, was through the band's Web site. I listened to the two tracks a

  • Rock Spectacle

    • 8 out of 10
    • Barenaked Ladies
    • These guys know how to put on a live show, and whomever recorded this knows how to capture one. Rock Spectacle is one of the warmest-sounding recordings I've ever heard, and totally fills a room at a
  • Now Here Is Nowhere

    • 10 out of 10
    • Secret Machines
    • The Secret Machines' inaugural album, Now Here is Nowhere is both old and new in its sonic assault. The trio's surprisingly big sound evokes Pink Floyd (without ever sounding like any Pink

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Dr. Mac’s Gift Guide for Geeks 2007

Welcome guys and gals to this years guide to gifts for geeks. Over the course of a year I get to try literally hundreds of different products in my roles as a columnist for the Houston Chronicle, Reviews Director for the iPod Observer, and columnist for the Mac Observer. (I know, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.)

The point is that everything I am about to recommend as a gift for the iPod-loving geek in your life has been personally tested by yours truly and is a product I recommend without hesitation and would purchase as a gift for someone I love (or even someone I like a lot).

So with no further ado, here are some great gifts for the geeks in your life. But first, because this is a rather long guide, here are direct links to its four sections:

iPods (from $79); Cases (from $15); Speakers and Earphones (from $70); Other Devices (from $90).

iPods for Everyone...

No matter how much or little you love that geek, or what your budget is, there’s an iPod model that will suit him or her as well as your budget.

An iPod makes a great gift for anyone. Left to Right: iPod touch, iPod Classic, iPod nano, iPod shuffle.

The iPod shuffle is the least expensive iPod making it great for geeks you love but not so much. While it has no screen and only holds two or three hundred songs (and no video--d’oh), it does come in five festive colors and it is a genuine iPod, which most people will agree is better than no iPod at all (or a Zune).

iPod shuffle. 1GB SRP $79.

The iPod nano, also available in five tasty colors, offers a lot of iPod in a very small package. The new (3d) generation nano plays video, audio, and games, and offers a larger, brighter color screen than any nano before it. If your loved one loves terrific, tiny yet titanically featured technological marvels, the 3d generation iPod nano is definitely the way to go.

iPod nano. 4GB SRP $149; 8GB SRP $249.

The iPod classic is perfect for the person who has so much music and video that it won’t all fit on any other iPod. With up to ten times more storage (160GB) than other iPods, a bigger, brighter screen, and a slimmer all-metal case, no other iPod will do if your loved one wants it all with him/her all the time.

iPod classic. 80GB SRP $249; 160GB SRP $349.

The iPod touch is like an iPhone without the phone. It’s got the iPhone’s sexy touch screen interface and the largest screen ever seen on any iPod. With a Web browser and Wi-Fi built in, it’s the perfect choice for the geek who is only interested in the tip-top of technology.

iPod touch. 8GB SRP $299; 16GB SRP $399.

Finally, the iPhone combines all that is great about the iPods with the best mobile phone and Internet device I’ve ever used. Yes, it’s the most expensive of all, but if I could only have one iPod it would definitely be an iPhone. So if you really love them a lot, make theirs an iPhone.

iPhone. 8GB SRP $399. (Requires 2-year service agreement with AT&T; prices start at $59.99 per month.)

One last thing: Custom laser engraving, formerly $50, is currently free for iPods purchased at the Apple Store online. While that�s nice (and free), it is limited to one or two lines of text per iPod. So here’s a thought: If you want laser engraving that is truly unique, check out the laser etched iPods (and MacBook Pros) by Etchstar. They offer hundreds of designs including logos from TV shows (Star Trek anyone?), plus animals, cartoons, tattoos, and many more. You can even upload your own artwork. Plus, you can add up to five lines of text at no additional cost. And if you just can�t decide on artwork or text, they offer Etchstar gift certificates. Prices start at around $20.

Now if your loved one already has an iPod, here are some items that make your iPod even better:

Cases

Most people prefer to protect their iPods and iPhones with a carrying case. There are lots of manufacturers of such items; here are a few of my favorites:

Xtreme Mac offers a wide selection of cases for all iPod and iPhone models. Available in a variety of materials including leather, silicone, and clear, scratch-resistant polycarbonate, the thing they have in common is that they’re all thoughtfully designed and well-built.

One of my favorite cases from Xtreme Mac is the TuffWrap, a handsome, reasonably-priced case that doesn’t add much bulk yet protects your device from most hazards as well as or better than most other cases.

Xtreme Mac’s TuffWrap is a handsome, durable silicone protection system for iPhones (pictured) and iPods.

Case-Mate offers several exquisite cases made of premium Italian leather. They’re really quite beautiful and provide more than adequate protection, too. I have a black Signature Leather phone case (as shown below) and it’s one of my favorites.

This Case-Mate Signature Leather case is also available in Sienna Red, Capri Green, and Peony Pink.

Belkin is another great resource for gift items. In addition to cases they also offer a variety of other iPod accessories, many of which would make excellent gifts.

You’ll see at least one other Belkin product later in this gift guide because Belkin offers a wide variety of useful iPod accessories at a broad range of prices. So, if you visit their Web site you might want to browse for other items in addition to their cases.

Last but not least, iSkin is another brand I recommend highly. Their stuff is stylish, reasonably priced, and unique. I use their Claro case (pictured below) with my iPod classic most of the time primarily because it has a kick stand built into the integrated belt clip, so it places my iPod at an ideal angle for watching video on a tray (or other) table.

This iSkin Claro is a great case but the kick stand is the part I love best...

One of my biggest gripes about using the iPod classic on a plane or in a hotel room was finding a comfortable place for the iPod. Laying it flat on the tray table or desk wasn’t very good and holding it in my hand was even worse. So the Claro’skick stand rocks and is the reason I take this case on all of my road trips.

Finally, for those who don’t care for cases, there’s invisibleSHIELD, one of my favorite products for hand-held devices InvisibleSHIELD is fabricated from an incredibly durable material that was originally created to protect the edges of helicopter blades. There are over 1,000 precision-cut designs for a variety of gadgets including iPods and iPhones, as well as other smartphones, PDAs, and cell phones. And every one comes with a lifetime warranty, so if it ever gets damaged or becomes worn, you can have it replaced for free (with a modest and reasonable charge for postage and handling).

I use InvisibleSHIELD on all of my little gadgets, even the ones I carry in a case, and recommend it highly.

Speakers and Earphones

The diminutive iMainGo travel speaker, which I reviewed last February, is a terrific little speaker system that takes up very little space, is reasonably priced, and sounds a lot better than you would expect a speaker so small to sound.

iMainGo may be tiny but it offers surprisingly loud, pleasant, crisp, and undistorted sound.

In my February review I concluded:

With its reasonable price tag ($69.95), tiny size, huge sound, and quality construction, iMainGo is without a doubt the best ultra-portable iPod speaker system I’ve seen to date. If you want a really small iPod speaker system that has really big sound, look no further. Or, as my 18-year old daughter puts it, "that thing is soooo tight!"

iMainGo. SRP $69.

The mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb iPod Speaker system is an iPod speaker system that looks like a bowling ball and is available in seven different colors.

The mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb looks like a bowling ball but is actually a decent stereo speaker system.

It wasn’t the best sounding speaker system, as I noted in my November review:

...it doesn’t suck and it may be that I’m somewhat spoiled by listening to higher-quality (and more expensive) speakers most of the time

But my conclusion was that the mStation Stereo Orb was a stylish and compact speaker system that offers a lot of features for its price. It may be just the thing for the design-conscious iPod owner in your life.

mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb. SRP $129.

While I was fond of the little iMainGo speaker described previously, it’s the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere Speaker I take with me when I travel. It’s chock full of great features such as an 8-hour rechargeable battery, wireless remote, and semi-rigid carrying case.

The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere Speaker is what I take with me when I hit the road...

When I reviewed this product last October, my only complaint or criticism of it was that:

...its suggested retail price, $149, makes it a wee bit pricey. But if you shop around, you should be able to find one for $10 or $20 less, which is a bit more reasonable. Other than that the Pure-Fi Anywhere delivers on its promise with excellent sound quality, thoughtful features, and a sturdy carrying case.

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere Speaker. SRP $149.

How much do you love the person you’re giving this gift to? If you really love them a lot you might consider Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin iPod Speaker System. It’s drop-dead gorgeous, sounds incredible. It also costs more than any other iPod speaker system I’ve ever tested -- $600.

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin: Expensive and worth every penny...

If I were in a position to buy a $600 iPod speaker system there is no doubt this is the one I would choose.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin. SRP $599.

Let’s face it, the earphones Apple includes with iPods aren’t very good. While the product team at Apple frequently tell me they are better than the earphones included with most other similarly-priced audio players, the fact remains that almost any third-party earphones will sound better.

I’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of different earphones over the past few years and the ones I keep coming back to are the Atrio M5 series earphones from Future Sonics. To my ears they sound better than many more expensive earphones and about a zillion times better than what Apple provides.

I’ve got over a dozen sets of earphones but it’s the Atrio M5 series I use the most.

Don’t take my word for it. Last April our own Dave Hamilton, whose ears are much younger and healthier than mine, reviewed these earphones and concluded:

...at US$199 MSRP, these earphones are an amazing value, and may just be the best-sounding universal-fit earphones you can find at any price. Only your ears can tell, of course, but these are worth checking out, especially if you’re someone who listens to a lot of guitar and drum-filled music.

Atrio M5 series earphones. SRP $199.

Last but not least (at least for this category), the headset that comes with the iPhone isn’t much better than the earphones that come with iPods. And, because the microphone is built in to the earphone cable, it hasn’t been easy to find a better-sounding replacement until recently. Fortunately, the folks over at v-moda recently introduced the Vibe Duo stereo headset with built-in microphone, which is a perfect replacement for the mediocre iPhone headset.

The v-moda Vibe Duo looks great and sounds even better.

Furthermore, unlike many third-party earphones, the Vibe Duo was designed with the iPhone in mind and doesn’t require an adapter. Just plug it into your iPhone and everything -- phone calls, music, and video -- will sound a whole lot better.

v-moda Vibe Duo. SRP $101.

Small Electronics

If your loved one uses a mobile phone and that phone has Bluetooth wireless capabilities (many if not most, including iPhone, do), consider a Bluetooth hands-free wireless headset. Using one makes it safer to talk on the phone while you’re driving. In fact, some states require a wireless headset like these to use your mobile phone while you’re driving.

I’ve tried nearly a dozen of these puppies this year alone and I have two that are my favorites, -- the Aliph Jawbone and the Plantronics Discovery 665 (both reviewed earlier this year: Jawbone review; Discovery 665 review).

The Aliph Jawbone is sleek and stylish.

The Plantronics Discovery 665 isn’t as handsome as the Jawbone but it is slightly louder.

Another nice thing about Bluetooth headsets is that you can use them for voice dialing with many mobile phones (but not the iPhone, at least not at this time). That means you can press a button on the headset and say, "Lisa’s mobile" and the phone will dial Lisa’s mobile phone number for you.

Even though I can’t use my headset for voice dialing with my iPhone, I do use one whenever I drive. And when I do, I always choose one of these two.

Jawbone Bluetooth headset. SRP $119.

Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth headset. SRP $149.

Speaking of cars, another great gift idea is the Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod. It lets you charge, power, and listen to your iPod in any car by sending the iPod’s output to the car’s FM stereo. While there are many devices similar to this one, Belkin’s has a few unique features that make it one of the best FM transmitters (if not the best) I’ve ever tried.

Just plug it in, turn on your radio, and you’re ready to rock.

For additional information, check out my recent review.

Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod. SRP $89.

Last but not least, if your beloved is a Mac user and a TV watcher, Elgato’s EyeTV 250 Plus may be the perfect gift. In a nutshell, it’s an analog/digital TV receiver and video converter in a little box that connects to my Mac via USB.

The little EyeTV 250 Plus box (front) with an Apple TV, iPod Classic, and iPhone to provide a sense of scale.

With it I can watch, record, and convert TV shows among various file formats, right on my Mac. I wrote a whole column about it in October (read the whole thing here), but here’s an excerpt that explains why I like it so much:

I’m not a huge TV watcher but there are a handful of (mostly cable) TV shows that I like to watch, including (but not limited to) The Family Guy, and Criss Angel: Mindfreak. I also have a penchant for HBO, which shows movies, specials and series I enjoy, such as Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Real Time with Bill Maher to name a few.

My two biggest TV-related issues prior to the EyeTV 250 plus were:

  1. I use a generic TimeWarner Cable DVR (because am too cheap to buy a TiVO box). So there is no easy way for me to get recorded shows into iTunes so I can watch them on my Mac, Apple TV, iPod, or iPhone.

  2. I don’t have room in my office for a TV so I can only watch television-- live or recorded -- in the den or bedroom.

The Elgato EyeTV 250 plus not only resolved both of those problems elegantly, it’s made watching television a more viable and pleasant experience.

Here’s what it looks like on my MacBook Pro:

Watching Jon Stewart in a window on my MacBook Pro...

It’s one of my favorite gadgets introduced this year and something that any TV watching Mac user in his or her right mind will enjoy immensely.

Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus. SRP $199.

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