Apple iPod Touch

It is that time of year again – Graduation.  What better  graduation gift idea, than the gift of music?

In our world, the Apple iPod Touch is the best product at a reasonable price.

In case you’re curious, we’ll fill you in on all of Apple’s music makers!

iPod Shuffle - For around $80, you can get into the iPod craze.  A compact and basic design, the iPod shuffle is the first step into digital music playback.  Lacking the software extras of the other iPod models, the iPod Shuffle is the base model with no extras.

iPod Nano – Starting at just over $120, the iPod Nano may be the best budget high school graduation gift idea.  With plenty of cool, and useful accessories, it is the perfect music player for the college bound student, and it won’t break the budget.  Lightweight, sturdy, and user friendly.  Your high school grad will think of you every time they play their music!

iPod Classic - $220 buys you a step up from the Nano.  For the extra hundred dollars, you get some software upgrades, more storage space and a larger screen.  Worth the extra $$.. you be the judge.

iPod Touch - The king of the hill, the top of the line, the best of the best.  For around $200 you can get the 8GB model (nowhere near the 80GB you get with the classic), with more memory costing more money.  But you also get all of the software that comes very close to making the iPod Touch a hand held computer.  If you have the budget for it, and your high school grad is looking for a good all in one device, the iPod Touch is the way to go.  And with the 3rd generation just released, now is the time to get the hot new iPod Touch.

Of all the graduation gift ideas, the Apple iPod Touch is the best product for the music loving grad in your life.  With quality products, and prices to fit everyone’s budget, the iPod is the way to go.

Congratulations Grads!

P.S. – A gift card to iTunes to go along with their new iPod is a great addition.  They can start downloading their favorite music immediately.

Asus eee 1001P Intel Atom Netbook (Black)

Everyone’s looking for graduation gift ideas this time of year.  Take the time to do some research before you run out to your local box store and get sold on laptops & netbooks that won’t fit your needs (perhaps it’s not the best buy )

Laptop vs. Netbook – The difference

As you can see from the stats, the laptop is designed to be a computer more similar to a desktop.  More computing power, more memory, and a more versatile Operating System.  (If your grad is into gaming, videos etc. this is probably your best bet.)  The Netbook is more of a bare bones, keep it simple computer.  Great at accessing the internet and doing word processing etc.  Also, the Netbooks are smaller, lighter weight and typically with a longer battery life, they are easier to carry from class to class.

Below is our list of top performers on multiple review sites.  Take it for what you will, but be informed before you buy.

Laptops -

Gateway NV7915u-

Processor- 2.13 GHz Intel Corei3
Ram- 4GB
Hard drive-  500 GB
Operating System- Windows 7 Home

HP G62t -

Processor- 2.13 GHz Intel Core i3
Ram- 4GB
Hard drive- 500 GB
Operating System- Windows 7 Home

These two make the top of the list, earning honors in multiple reviews, on multiple sites (cnet and laptopmag)  At around $600, all of our research says these are both great laptops, and very comparable (the hard drive on the HP spinning a little quicker)  . Earning honors for best laptops as well as best budget laptops, they’ve got all the software and computing power the college bound grads will need.

Netbooks -

ASUS Eee PC 1001P –

Processor- 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450
Ram- 1GB
Hard Drive- 160 GB
Operating System- Windows 7 Starter

Netbooks are the hot new thing in computing power, and this one is the computer earning top recognition on multiple sites.  This seems to be the pick, and at about half the price of a laptop, not a bad investment for your High School Graduate.

If laptops & netbooks rank high on your list of graduation gift ideas, then look into these recommendations.  We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Happy Computing!

P.S. – Our experience shows it’s best to opt out of the extended warranty.  Most electronics come with a solid manufacturers warranty that will cover any issues that may come up.  The extended warranty is a great way to increase the retailer’s bottom line.

So, does this game really live up to all the hype that has been out there?  Here is what my nephew had to say about it, “It is awesome!”  He purchased this game not long ago and stayed up most of the night playing through all the songs.  He loves The Beatles and The Beatles Rock Band was the perfect fit for him.

Anymore, it seems like everyone has the Rock Band video games.  I know families who play this for their weekly entertainment.  The whole family gathers around the TV, each with their own instrument ready to rock out.  What better way to bring the family together for a good time than playing together as a band.

Ah, can you hear it?  All I can imagine is the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family.  Now I am dating myself.  The Beatles Rock Band video game is one of the hottest games going this Christmas.  If you know someone who loves playing either the Wii, Playstation3 or Xbox 360, then I guarantee you will want to check this game out.

Check out the video below for a great review!

Nintendo Wii Console With Wii Fit Bundle

What a perfect marriage!  The Nintendo Wii Console with Wii Fit Bundle.  Now you can get the best of both worlds together.  That is if you like to work out.

The Wii has become one of the hottest selling game consoles on the market.  Why?  Because of it’s interactive use.  Now instead of just pushing buttons like the games of old, you now get to actually interact with the games.  The sports packages are extremely popular on this system.

I can’t tell you how many times I have come home from work to find my kids not home.  Where are they?  Next door at the neighbors playing the Wii.  From bowling to baseball and everything in between.  They love to play these.  I know my oldest son, who loves golf, loves playing golf games on the Wii.  I am amazed at how long these games captivate them.  Plus, the best thing of all is they can play against each other.

Well, now you can buy the the game console with the Wii Fit all bundled together.  The Wii Fit is quickly becoming one of the best home workouts around.  You can now interact with your workout and see results.  You are able to set goals, track results, see your Wii Fit age and so much more.

If you are ready to have some fun and bring new life to your daily workout, then the Nintendo Wii Console With Wii Fit Bundle is definitely the way to go.

I can tell you this is one of the hottest items of the year.  Even my mother, who hates video games, went out the other day and bought this bundle.  Not for the games of course, but for the workout.  But I can almost guarantee you that if I were to sneak over to my parents house that I just might catch them doing a little tennis or bowling on the Wii.  Even my parents have caught on to the Wii revolution!  Now you can too.  Enjoy!

We would love to hear your feedback on this bundle, please comment below.

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT 2.0

Do you remember as a kid playing with LEGOs®?  Boy have times changed.  Check out the new LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT 2.0.  These things look awesome!

Do you have a child, or maybe you for that matter, that is creative and loves electronics and building?  This just might be the best gift of the year then.  This robotic building system comes with some of the coolest features yet in the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® series.

The NXT is an intelligent computer controlled LEGO® brick and the brain of the MINDSTORMS® robot.  With its servo motors and sensors this robot is perfect for that techie in your life.

No longer is the LEGO® name just affiliated with building blocks.  If you are looking for some kind of electronic toy that takes some time and thought to put together then the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT 2.0 is for you.  This is one of the hottest gifts going this Christmas.