Handy tips for high-tech giving

A few high-tech devices are on many people's shopping lists this holiday season. These most-wanted items include digital cameras, portable music players, cellphones, computers and printers, to name a few.

During the past year or two, I've covered these items, though many have since been updated and there are other models to consider. Still, you might want to browse previous columns to get some gift-giving ideas. To have a look, go to: www.seattletimes.com/gettingstarted, or my personal column Web site: www.gettingstartedremix.net.

Cameras: A year ago, I tested and then bought a Nikon D70s digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera (plus lenses) that has since been updated to the newer D80 model, which others have reviewed favorably.

However, most people with cameras on their wish lists are hoping for a high-quality, easy-to-use camera that's small enough to fit in a purse or even a pocket. There are many available, so do a little research by going online and searching with keywords such as: "reviews compact digital cameras." Be sure to include "reviews" so you'll get experts' and owners' opinions rather than mainly advertisements.

Portable music players: A portable music player will be on many people's wish lists, especially for those younger than 30. I've tried the latest Apple iPod video and iPod nano, and like them both. I have not tried Microsoft's new Zune player.

In my opinion, the safer choice would be an iPod because it's been around for several years and proved itself to be reliable and easy to use, while providing excellent audio and visual quality. Pick the iPod video if the recipient wants to view photos and videos as well as listen to music; pick the little iPod nano if its primary use will be to listen to music on the go.

Cellphones: If the person on your gift list wanting a new cellphone doesn't yet have cellphone service, better choose that first (Sprint, Verizon, Cingular, for example) and be fully aware of the monthly charges that come with any service.

Assuming the recipient already has service and wants a new handset, there are many to choose from. You'll need to find one that works with the existing cellphone service and that has the kinds of features and capabilities he or she wants (such as multimedia support and text messaging, for example).

I have a Sprint LG Fusic handset that I like a lot, but not because it does a good job handling multimedia content (which it does). I like the Fusic because it has exceptionally clear voice quality, which, in my opinion, is the most important feature in a cellphone.

On the other hand, kids with no trouble hearing probably care more about the cellphone's ability to take good photos, play music and support text messaging. In addition, because a cellphone is something many kids carry around and use a lot, how cool it looks may be essential.

For these reasons, it may make more sense for the recipient to locate the handset he or she wants most, and then you buy it. Or you could put a wrapped gift box under the tree containing a promissory note for a cellphone shopping trip.

Computers: Some lucky kids and adults will get a new computer this Christmas. If you're planning to give one, be sure to choose carefully for the person who will be receiving it and using it most of the time.

First decision is whether it should be a Mac or a Windows PC. To help you decide, find out what the user-to-be wants, has been using or uses at school/home/office, and then decide. (That may be another decision best left up to the future user.)

Next, decide whether it should be a desktop or laptop computer.

Kids, for example, like to bring their computers to friends' houses, to school, the library and different rooms at home. That means a laptop could be a good choice, unless, of course, the user-to-be tends to forget things and may lose it.

Laptops are generally more expensive than desktops with equivalent power and features, so if the future user wants to do a lot with photos and video, amass a large music collection, play popular computer games and other feature-rich activities that require lots of memory and storage capacity, a desktop might be the better choice if cost is a consideration.

Again, before making a final decision, read reviews of the models you're considering. If the recipient has a certain computer in mind, better find out why and whether that choice makes sense. Or be ready to explain why your choice can do what he or she wants to do better.

I'm a Macintosh user who started using a PC to more easily relate to the majority of readers who use PCs. That lasted for a couple of years. Turns out that a Mac better meets my personal need to work with photographs, launch and manage personal Web sites and do other multimedia-rich activities. To satisfy Windows-PC-using readers, I try to cover topics and products that relate to both kinds of computers.

Printers: If a printer is on your gift-shopping list, find out if its primary use will be to print black-and-white text or color photographs.

If its sole use will be to print text, a black-and-white laser printer may be the better choice (keeping in mind that laser printers cost more, but ink costs a lot less in the long run). If the recipient needs or wants to print in color, then an inkjet printer is probably the right choice, and more specifically, an inkjet photo printer for best-quality photo printing.

Over the past few years, I've tested a number of Epson printers and like them a lot. Currently, I'm using an Epson Stylus Photo 1280, which can print on paper up to 13 by 19 inches as well as 13-by-44-inch banners. I also like Epson's newer R1800 photo printer, but it uses more ink cartridges, making the total cost of ink significantly higher. For printing small 3-by-4-inch and 4-by-6-inch photos, I use (and like) the little Epson PictureMate printer.

Alternatively, Canon and Hewlett-Packard, among other manufacturers, also make good printers. Again, when you've decided between an inkjet or laser printer, go online and read reviews to help you choose a specific brand and model.

OK, that's enough shopping advice for this year's popular high-tech gifts. Don't forget to create your own wish list, and if you want just the right equipment, do the research yourself and write specific brand names and model numbers on your wish list to make the gift-giver's job easy.

Write Linda Knapp at lknapp@seattletimes.com; to read other Getting Started columns, go to:www.seattletimes.com/gettingstarted