Thanks for taking the iPads, Kindles and Nooks! Oh My! class. I hope you find this outline helpful to you as a reference to the material we covered. I have included videos and links to various things I think you may find helpful. If you have any further questions don't hestiate to contact Mike.
Gift Giving Tips
Before purchasing a gift for someone make sure to find out what other gadgets they already own. Buying a Kindle for someone that already owns a Nook would probably not be the best gift to give that person.
If you don't live with the person you may want to call someone who does to gather some information.
Online Shopping Tips
According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse it is best to use a credit card while shopping online.
“The safest way to shop on the Internet is with a credit card. In the event something goes wrong, you are protected under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. You have the right to dispute charges on your credit card, and you can withhold payments during a creditor investigation. When it has been determined that your credit was used without authorization, you are only responsible for the first $50 in charges. You are rarely asked to pay this charge. ”
Tablets
There are numerous tablets available. In this class we are going to focus on the iPad, Kindle Fire, and Nook HD.
iPads
Apple is now selling three major models of the iPad.
- iPad with Retina Display (4th Generation)
- iPad 2
- iPad mini
Within each major model is a variety of options. These options are:
- Color (Black or White)
- Size (16GB, 32GB, 64GB)
- Wireless Connection (Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + Cellular)
The iPad Mini and iPad 2 are practically idential except for the size of the screen. The iPad with Retinda Display (4th Generation) has a better display, better graphics, and a faster processor.
I would recommend the iPad mini or the iPad with Retina Display for anyone looking to purchase an iPad for themselves or as a gift. Both of these iPads have Siri built-in so you can ask questions and dictate text. The iPad 2 does not have Siri built in.
If you plan using the iPad as a laptop replacement I would consider either a 32GB or 64GB iPad. If you plan on using the iPad primarily to surf the web, check email, and read books I would recommend the 16GB model.
If you want to be able to get online when you don't have Wi-Fi then you may want to invest in the Wi-Fi + Cellular models. You will pay more upfront ($130) and then you will have to pay a monthly fee to either Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint.
Here's a quote from Tim Stevens from Engadget about the iPad mini.
“This isn’t just an Apple tablet made to a budget. This isn’t just a shrunken-down iPad. This is, in many ways, Apple’s best tablet yet, an incredibly thin, remarkably light, obviously well-constructed device that offers phenomenal battery life. No, the performance doesn’t match Apple’s latest and yes, that display is a little lacking in resolution, but nothing else here will leave you wanting. At $329, this has a lot to offer over even Apple’s more expensive tablets.”
Here's a quote from Tim Stevens from Engadget about the iPad with Retina Display (4th Generation).
“The new iPad is the best 10-inch tablet on the market.That said, we’d be lying if we didn’t say the new iPad mini is an incredibly compelling alternative, a device so good that perhaps this update was released so soon after its predecessor to maintain the appeal of the bigger, more expensive unit. The conspiracy theorists are welcome to argue this point, but we’ll say this with conviction: this is a wonderful time to buy a tablet. If you’re still on the fence about buying into Apple’s tablet ecosystem, go ahead and pull the trigger already.The only question is: which size?”
Here is some information about the warranty coverage on the iPads from Apple's website.
“Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage and 90 days of telephone technical support. AppleCare+ for iPad gives you two years of repair coverage and technical support from the original purchase date of your iPad. And it adds coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage due to handling for your iPad, each subject to a $49 service fee plus applicable tax.”
You can purhcase AppleCare+ for $99.
You can purchase iPads at:
The prices will generally be the same no matter where you purchase the iPad. You might save a small amount of money if purchased at Sam's Club or Costco.
Kindle Fire
Amazon is now selling four major models of the Kindle Fire.
- Kindle Fire
- Kindle Fire HD
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE Wireless
Within each major model is some options. These options are:
- Size (8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB)
- Special Offers (With or Without)
In 2011, Amazon released the Kindle Fire which is a 7 inch tablet designed primarily for the consumption of media. The original Kindle Fire was met with poor reviews.
In 2012, Amazon released the Kindle Fire HD. This is an improved version of the Kindle Fire fixing many of the complaints from the original. Amazon also released an 8.9 inch version of the device. Unlike the iPads, there is only one model that has a cellular option. I would not recommend the $159 Kindle Fire when there is a much improved Kindle Fire available for $40 more.
I view the Kindle Fire more as a consumption device than a computer replacement. The Kindle Fire may be a good alternative to the iPad if you simply want to read books, watch movies, and listen to music.
Amazon offers all the Kindle Fires With or Without Special Offers. Here is what Amazon's website has to say about Special Offers:
“You’ll receive special offers and sponsored screensavers directly on your Kindle Fire.
Your offers display on the lock screen and in small text on the lower left hand corner of the home screen—they don’t interrupt use of the device. If you would like to opt out of these special offers, you can do so through Manage Your Kindle for $15 after you have registered your device.”
Here's a quote from Tim Stevens from Engadget about the Kindle Fire.
“Even if you step up and pay the extra $15 to disable Offers on your Kindle Fire HD, you can never and will never shake the feeling that this is less a tablet and more of a tool for shopping — a Trojan Horse that’s let into your home thanks to its low price and then unleashes a legion of must-buy items to completely compromise any walls you’ve built around your budget.
If you can get past that decidedly subsidized feeling, you do have a compelling package in your hands.The HD is fast, has a nice design, a beautiful screen, proper stereo speakers and, of course, oodles and oodles of premium content. For casual users looking for an inexpensive yet powerful tablet, the Kindle Fire HD should absolutely be at the top of your shopping list.”
Amazon offers a 1-Year Limited Warrant on all Kindle Fires. You can purchase a 2-Year Extended Warranty for $45.
You can purchase the Kindle Fire at:
Prices should be about the same at both locations. You don't have to pay tax on your purchases on Amazon.com which might save you a little bit of money.
Nook Tablets
Barnes & Noble is now selling four major models of the Nook tablet.
- Nook Color
- Nook Tablet
- Nook HD
- Nook HD+
You have a choice of size (8GB or 16GB) with all models except for the Nook Color. The Nook HD and Nook HD+ come in a choice of colors (Snow or Smoke).
In 2010, Barnes & Noble released the Nook Color. In 2011, Barnes & Noble released the Nook Tablet. In 2012, Barnes & Noble released the Nook HD. Barnes & Noble is offering the older models at lower prices. All the Nook tablets have been met with positive reviews and are a good choice for someone who primarily wants to consume media (books, magazines, comics, video, etc).
All models are offered as Wi-Fi only. If a person was considering a Nook tablet I would strongly encourage the new Nook HD. We all know that technology changes quickly and I am not a huge fan of buying two year old technology especially when I am planning on holding onto a device for the next few years. The cost difference between the Nook Color and Nook HD is only $60 and I believe is well worth the extra cost.
If you primarilly plan on reading books I would stick with the 8GB models. If you want to download movies, magazines, comics, or music I would encourage you to get the 16GB model.
Here is a quote from David Pogue from The New York Times about the Nook HD:
“The redesign of this $200 e-book reader/video player focuses on the three things that matter most in a hand-held e-book reader: weight, size and screen clarity. In those ways, the Nook HD trounces its nemeses, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Google’s Nexus 7. The Nook is lighter (11.1 ounces, versus 12 on the Nexus and 13.9 on the Kindle) and noticeably narrower, despite the same-size screen, because it has a far slimmer bezel.You can wrap your hand around its back, even if you’re dainty of hand. And the screen is much sharper: 1,440 by 900 pixels (versus 1,280 by 800). At 243 dots ppi, the Nook’s screen comes dangerously close to the iPad Retina’s 264 ppi. Wow, is this screen sharp. Movies, books and magazines pop.”
All Nook tablets come with a 1-Year Warranty. You can purchase an extended warrant for $69.
You can purchase a Nook tablet at:
- Barnes & Noble
- Target
- Wal-Mart
Prices should be approximately the same at all locations.
E-Readers
There are numerous E-Readers are on the market. In this class we are going to focus on the Kindles and Nooks.
Kindles
Amazon is selling three major models of their Kindle E-Readers.
- Kindle
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Kindle Paperwhite 3G
Within each major model is some options. These options are:
- Special Offers (With or Without)
Both the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite have been met with positive reviews. If you would like to see what my wife & I thought of last year's model check out, A Week With The Kindle 4 and Kindle Touch blog post we wrote after taking a cruise last winter.
The Kindle Paperwhite introduces a front light system so you can read when the room is dark. A couple great features of the Kindle E-Readers include:
- Long battery life (measured in weeks not hours)
- Light weight and very portable
I would typically recommend someone does not purchase the Kindle Paperwhite 3G model because you can download books before you go on a trip via Wi-Fi. The 3G model seems like an ideal product for someone who is going to be going overseas for an extended period of time and not have regular access to Wi-Fi. The 3G works overseas and there is no monthly cost to use it.
Just like the Kindle Fires, the Kindle E-Readers come with Special Offers. You can pay $20 to have them removed if you would like.
Here is a quote from David Pogue from The New York Times about the Kindle Paperwhite:
“The glowy Nook has more hardware features and a better price. But if you’re choosing an E Ink reader over the color models, it’s because what you intend to do mostly is stare at that screen, lost in your reading. In that case, the display of the page is more important than any other factor, and that’s where the Kindle Paperwhite shines.”
Here is what Amazon's website has to say about Special Offers on the Kindle E-Readers:
“You’ll receive special offers and sponsored screensavers directly on your Kindle. Your offers display on your Kindle’s screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen—they don’t interrupt reading.”
All Kindle E-Readers come with a 1-Year warranty. You can get an extendended warranty for $25.
You can purchase the Kindle E-Readers at:
- Amazon.com
- Best Buy
Prices should be approximately the same at both locations. You don't have to pay sales tax on purchases from Amazon which might save a little money.
Nooks
Barnes & Noble is now selling two major models of the Nook E-Reader.
- Nook Simple Touch
- Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight
Both the Nook Simple Touch and Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight have met with positive reviews. A couple great features of the Nook E-Readers include:
- Long battery life (measured in weeks not hours)
- Light weight and very portable
The Nook E-Readers do not come with advertisements like the Kindle E-Readers.
Here is a quote from Brian Heater from Engadget about the Nook Simple Touches:
“The Kindle’s still far from perfect, though. For starters, it’s simply not as pleasant to hold as the Nook Simple Touches — it ultimately sacrifices comfort for some aesthetic niceties.”
All Barnes & Noble E-Readers come with a 1-Year warranty. You can get an extendended warranty for $20.
You can purchase the Nook E-Readers at:
- Barnes & Noble
- Best Buy
- Target
- Wal-Mart
Prices should be approximately the same at all locations.
Smartphones
If you walk into any cell phone store you will be quickly overwhelmed by the many options. In my opinion there are only three smart phones worth buying. The three smart phones worth buying are:
- Apple iPhone 5
- Apple iPhone 4S
- Samsung Galaxy S3
The reason I say that these are the three smart phones worth buying is because that they have all been met with very positive reviews. They are also the three best selling phones so there are plenty of accessories for these phones.
The prices you see below are with a two year contract.
I own an iPhone 4S and I honestly can't find anything to dislike about it. I have friends and family that have the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S3 and they speak very highly of their phones.
The iPhones are available on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. The Galaxy S3 is available on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
When purchasing a smartphone you will want to consider the network that gives you the best coverage where you primarily use the phone. Plan cost is another thing to consider.
Smartphones typically require a data plan. I use my iPhone quite a bit and I average 1.7GB of data per month. I would anticipate that most people would use less than 2GB per month.
Here is a quote from John Gruber from Daring Fireball about the iPhone 5:
“I don’t know how else to convey the niceness of this thing. This iPhone 5 review unit is the single nicest object in my possession. I own things that cost and remain worth more (e.g. my car). But I own nothing this nice. It sounds hyperbolic to put it that way, but I offer this observation with no exaggeration.”
Here is a quote from Jordan Crook from TechCruch about the Galaxy S3:
“In the end, the Samsung Galaxy S III is the phone you’ve been waiting for. It’s generally well-built, it has an incredible display, solid battery life, plenty of interesting features and it just works well. That’s not something I find myself saying very often of Android phones.”
You can purchase these smart phones at the following stores:
- Apple Store (iPhone 4S & iPhone 5 only)
- Best Buy
- Radio Shack
- AT&T
- Sprint
- T-Mobile (Galaxy S3 only)
- Verizon
Prices should be similar at all locations.
iPods
Apple has dominated the portable music player industry for the past decade. There is currently no major competitors in this category.
Apple has four major models of the iPod. They are:
- iPod Shuffle
- iPod Nano
- iPod Classic
- iPod Touch
The iPod Shuffle is a great little music player for the person that wants to workout and doesn't care what song they listen to. The iPod Shuffle does not have a screen to select songs.
The iPod Nano is a great iPod for the person who likes to workout, but wants the ability to pick what music they are listening to. The iPod Nano also features built in FM tuner, a built in pedometer, and a touch screen.
The iPod Classic is the oldest of the iPod models. It has a ton of storage for those people with massive music collections.
The iPod Touch 4th Generation came out in 2010 and is still being sold at a less expensive price. I wouldn't recommend this iPod as the technology is already quite a bit out of date.
The iPod Touch 5th Generation is a great iPod for someone who wants something like a smartphone without having to pay monthly data fees to a cell phone provider. It fits in your pocket and you can check email, play games, surf the web, take photos, and do everything an iPhone can minus the phone aspect. The iPod Touch is very popular with the preteen and teen age groups.
You can purchase iPods at:
- Apple Store
- Amazon.com
- Target
- Wal-Mart
Prices will be similar across the board. Stores often offer gift cards with the purchase of an iPod these days. It is worth checking the ads to see if there are any deals to be had.
Earbuds and Headphones
If you know someone that likes to listen to music, then a pair of earbuds or headphones might make for a great gift. They wear out over time and are easy to lose.
Based on my research the best $10 Earbuds are the Monoprice 8320. They can be purchased on Amazon.
The best $100 Earbuds are the Velodyne V-Pulse In-Ear Headphones. They can be purchased on Amazon.
The best Noise Canceling Headphones are the Bose Quiet Comfort 15. They cost $299 and can be purchased on Amazon. You can also purchase them for the same price at the Bose Store at the Mall of America or at your local Best Buy.
Speakers
If you know someone that likes to listen to music around their house a portable speaker might make a great gift.
Based on my research the best $100 iPod Dock is the Logitech S715I. It offers a built-in rechargeable battery so you can take the speaker anywhere with you. It is currently on sale at Tiger Direct for $90. You can purchase it from Amazon for $115. Your local Best Buy also carries this speaker.
A great Wireless Speaker is the Big Jambox by Jawbone. This speaker allows you to stream music from your iPhone, iPad, computer, or iPod Touch. You can purchase the Big Jambox from Amazon for $299. Your local Best Buy also carries this speaker.
Living Room
In the living room there are a few gift ideas that might make sense for you. The first one is a Blu-Ray players. The cost for the players and the discs have come down significantly and Blu-Ray offers a superior movie experience compared to DVDs.
Based on my research the best $100 Blu-Ray player is the Panasonic DMP-BDT220. It can be purchased on Amazon. Note: Some people have complaints about Netflix streaming not working as well as it should on this Blu-Ray player.
If you want to watch Netflix and other videos on your television you might want to consider an Apple TV or a Roku.
The Apple TV gives you access to Neflix as well as the vast iTunes library of movies and television shows. You can rent or purchase movies. You can purchase television shows. The Apple TV can be purchased for $99 from Apple. You can also purchase it at your local Apple or Best Buy retail stores.
The Roku gives you access to Netflix, HuluPlus and other online video services. Roku offers a variety of devices, but the one that I would recommend is the Roku 2 XD. The Roku 2 XD can be purchased for $78 from Amazon. You can also purchase the Roku 2 XD from your local Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart.
Health & Fitness
For the person in your life that is intersted in improving their health one of the following products might make for a great gift.
The FitBit One is a device tracks how many steps you take, how many flights of stairs you climb, and your sleep quality. It can be purchased from FitBit for $99.
The FitBit Zip tracks how many steps you have taken. It is available from FitBit for $59.
Both devices can transmit data wirelessly to your computer which will upload to FitBit's website so you can see graphs and charts of your health metrics.
Gift Cards
Since so many people have iOS devices (iPhones, iPods, and iPads) a gift card for iTunes can be a great gift. People can an iTunes Gift Card to purchase Apps, Songs, Movies, E-Books, Audiobooks, and Television Shows.
If the person you are purchasing a gift for has a Kindle, an Amazon gift card can be a great gift. Nook owners would appreciate a Barnes & Noble gift card.
If you know the person you are buying a gift wants a more expensive item and you can't afford to buy the item itself, a gift card to the appropriate store can be a great gift.