What should you consider when buying computers and other electronic gadgets for yourself and others? Larry Meiller finds out what to look for when shopping around this season.
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Computer Expert Says To Go Wireless For Holiday Gifts
Bluetooth technology seems to be all the rage this holiday season, according to one computer consultant.
Bluetooth is a system for wirelessly connecting gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, printers and other devices over short distances via radio waves. And according to Peter Greene with InfoStar.com, it’s the way to go this year when holiday shopping.
Greene said there’s a wide variety of options to meet just about everyone’s preferences when it comes to wireless technology, although he did caution that the technology isn’t for everyone. For example, while pairing a wireless mouse and keyboard would in many cases make a great gift for a colleague, there are some people out there who would rather stick with their wired setup
“They don’t like the interruption when the battery gets weak or, you know, fails and you’ve got to change the battery. They just like being ‘on’ all the time,” Greene said.
For friends and family members, Bluetooth speakers are another excellent option. Greene said sound bars and portable smartphone speakers are a pretty inexpensive option that boast a decent sound.
Sound bars create a stereo sound effect from a slim, sleek, single cabinet for one’s home television. Without the hassle of surround-sound speakers, it’s a wireless sound system gives a lot of ‘boom’ for the buck. Smartphone speakers are similar, except in that they’re portable, which can allow for much higher quality sound when playing music from a smartphone.
When shopping for youngsters, and even for the young at heart, drones have recently picked up in popularity. The range that the small unmanned aerial systems can have vary greatly, Greene said, and some even interface with a smartphone so people can have the video of the drone’s view in front of them.
Again, like the wireless keyboard and mouse, the battery life is something to take into account. A $50 to $70 drone can go about 100 to 200 feet, or about six minutes, Green said, before they die and people have to replace the batteries. Greene said some websites sell the drones with multiple battery packs to deal with the short-lived battery life.
Episode Credits
- Larry Meiller Host
- Cheyenne Lentz Producer
- Peter Greene Guest
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