Here are some recommendations for tools that might make going off to college, high school or any educational experience, more productive and fun.

Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive – $9.75 for 2GB

This tough little USB flash drive made our Father’s Day gift guide too. I like it that much. I personally tried to destroy one of these for a review that ran earlier this year. The drive takes a beating and holds your files intact. This rugged drive will help you back up or transfer papers (or other content) safely. The drive starts at under $10, and a large 16GB drive only costs about $40 direct from Verbatim.

iTunes or Amazon Gift Cards

You might think I’m just getting lazy with this pick. Gift cards? Really?

Yes! Gift cards supply both future and present needs. Your college student can get that useful note taking iPad app for class or some music or videos for entertainment. If you look at a local Sam’s Club you will often find iTunes Gift Cards for a few bucks less than the face value. For example, I recently bought four $25 gift cards in a single pack for only $96. You can get iTunes Gift Cards on discount at Sam’s Club or almost anywhere you buy electronics.

Amazon sells everything, and students get free access to Amazon Prime which provides free shipping or low-cost next day shipping. They can save some money using Amazon compared to getting books at the campus store. You can buy Amazon gift cards in any amount from their site.

ZooGue Binder Pad iPad 2 Case – $29.99

If your student will be carrying an iPad 2 to class, the ZooGue BinderPad iPad 2 Case can help them store it in their big three-ring binder notebook for just $30. I’ve tested it out and can assure you that it protects your iPad 2 well while in a three-ring binder. The case doesn’t add much weight to the iPad. It has three holes for the binder and you slide the iPad 2 into the top of the case. A flap with velcro holds the iPad in place. ZooGue makes it from a rugged polyester material. In the past I’ve been impressed with their iPad cases.

YooBao Slim Leather Snap On Case – $29.99

Speaking of cases, the makers of my favorite iPad 2 case have a snap-on iPhone 4 case made with the same nice leather used in that iPad 2 case. The iPhone case has a nice grip and protects your iPhone without adding much bulk or weight. The YooBao Slim Leather Snap On Case is inexpensive and looks nice too. The high-grade leather comes in three colors – white, brown and black.

Booqpad iPad 2 Case and Notepad – $49.99

Booq makes great laptop and tablet cases, but one favorite is the Bookpad iPad 2 case. It protects your iPad while adding a notepad that you can use for your note taking in class. When finished marking up a sheet of paper on the tablet side, just take the iPad out of the case and shoot an image to “scan” it into your favorite note app like Note Taker HD or Evernote. Our review linked above recommended this combination for people who take a lot of notes but haven’t become acclimated to digital note taking yet. Students often fit this category since your professors and teachers won’t wait for you to finish. Many people can keep up on a tablet screen, but many, like me, cannot if the speaker talks fast.

Booq offers a number of styles and colors to choose from including a high-end brown leather that costs $99.95 or the basic model for $49.95. We just wish that they would make a hole for the iPad 2 camera to make the capture process of the notes easier.

Also check out their other cases and bags for notebooks and tablets. You won’t be disappointed with a Booq Bag.

Livescribe 2GB Echo Smartpen – $99.95

A couple of our contributors here at Notebooks.com and GottaBeMobile.com swear by this tool. Livescribe pens will do more than just put ink on paper. They record the audio of lectures or meetings. They also record the motion of your pen, which is then transcribed into editable text. On top of that, they also offer storage for your audio. Our own Adam Mills told me, “If I was still in college, I’d definitely be using one for lectures.” With the pen you get a free year of Evernote Premium, which gives you extra storage and transfer space.

The 2GB Echo is one of the lower cost options, although they have higher capacity pens. The pen connects to a computer via Micro-USB to transfer files on and off. The ink is replaceable and the pen writes on special tablets, which you buy from the company.

Our own K.T. Bradford recommends getting the headphones with the pen. She said that they have a mic in them like you get with your smartphone. The mic picks up the sound better than the built-in mic on the pen.

iHome iA17 App-Enhanced Color Changing FM Radio Alarm Clock – $99.99

I’m a big fan of iHome’s products and the new iHome iA17 dock for your iPod Touch or iPhone should be as good as the past products I’ve tested. The radio changes colors based on your chosen settings. The base of the dock is translucent so the colored lighting shines through and will fade between colors as it changes or pulse to the beat of the music. You can turn it off completely.

The base of the dock changes colors with the music

The color feature might just be a fun attention-getting gimmick, but coming from iHome you can be assured that the sound quality will be top-notch for a product in this price range.

The dock fits anywhere in your dorm room, or on a bedroom nightstand, and helps keep you on time for those early morning classes or school days. It adds an FM stereo radio to your iOS device while it is docked, so you can both play your iPod files through the speakers and listen to the radio.

Install an iHome app on your device to get more features like sleeping stats, weather, alarm clock, wake to your favorite iPod tunes and more.

Sony Xperia Play Android Powered Phone – Verizon – $99

Our reviewers at GottaBeMobile see a lot of different Android phones, but for Verizon customers there is one that stands out if you like to play games. The Xperia Play from Sony will help you waste plenty of time. Our own Josh Smith reviewed the phone for our sister site GottaBeMobile and liked it. If you hate using a touch screen to control Madden NFL or your favorite first person shooter, then the Xperia play will satisfy you. Josh said the following:

The Xperia Play is not going to blow your mind with graphics, even if they are pretty good, but it is able to deliver a fun mobile gaming experience. Thanks to the off-screen controls, you can use your whole display for viewing the game — which even touchscreen junkies will appreciate.

Watch his hands on video for more info.

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB USB Hard Drive – $109.99

You can quickly share files with an external hard drive hooked up via USB. I wish everyone would adopt the fast Thunderbolt port on the new Macs, but at present few have other than Apple and some high end accessory makers. USB 3.0 is the next fastest hard drive interface and it works with older USB 2.0 ports as well.

This WD My Passport Essential SE 1TB USB Hard Drive, on sale right now for less than their 750GB model, will store a ton of music, movie, picture and personal files. The size means it won’t take up too much space in your backpack. The drive can be powered via USB on the majority of modern computers.

Microsoft Office Home and Student – $149.99 from Microsoft

Microsoft Office is the de facto office suite for the known world. Sure you can get other cheaper and free alternatives like OpenOffice.org or iWork’s apps on OS X, but Microsoft’s suite doesn’t cost all that much. Since the vast majority of computer users have Office, why put up with the hassle of converting your documents if you don’t have to? The suite has Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. More expensive versions add Outlook, Access or Publisher.

Office retails for $150, but never pay that much. You can find it online for as little as $100-$120. You might even find it in your college bookstore for as low as $20.

Computer majors might want to consider going with a TechNet subscription which allows downloading of full versions of Office and Windows for just a little more than the retail cost of Office Home and Student.

If you use a Mac, you can get Office for Mac 2011 for the same retail price or cheaper online. Microsoft offers it through TechNet as well. The Mac version is not a clone of the Windows version, but instead incorporates some of the OS X interface to make it more Mac-like. I’ve used the iWork apps like Pages, Keynote and Numbers. I prefer Word by far to Pages because it just has more to offer, while being more compatible in the dual-OS environments you find in most schools and universities. Keynote may be a little better than PowerPoint due to more attractive themes and transitions, but not enough to choose iWork and Pages over Office with Word if you have a lot of Office users around.

SuperTooth Disco Battery Powered Bluetooth Stereo Speakers – $149

I called this set of speakers the “21st century boom box” at GottaBeMobile.com. The SuperTooth Disco has bluetooth connectivity so you can hook them up to your smart phone or laptop to blast those beats. The sound quality beats most mobile speakers we’ve tested, and the long battery life means the music keeps pumping for hours out in the campus quad after classes, or just in your room.

I’ve used the system to show an outdoor movie to a few dozen people in my backyard and to play music at the beach on vacation this summer. They worked great. I also play music in my office with them.

The speaker system comes in a nice carrying case and has an auxiliary line input to connect a non-bluetooth enabled audio device. The speakers cost $149 directly from SuperTooth.

Canon Powershot SD1400IS Point and Shoot Camera – $199.99

Why would we include a camera when so many smart phones have great cameras these days? Not everyone owns one of those great smart phones with a nice camera. A lot of people still have a cheap feature phone or an early smartphone, and many are still locked into a 2-year contract. Also, a dedicated camera is still the best option for taking a lot of snap shots of special events, or when you are traveling. I’ve missed a lot of great moments because my smart phone camera took three or four taps to get started when a pocket camera would have been ready after the push of one button.

I love my Canon SD 1300IS. The only camera I would rather shoot with is my DSLR, or if I could justify it, the Canon SD1400IS. The optics on these inexpensive little cameras are surprisingly good for still shots or bright outdoor photographs. They are simple to use and just work! Many of the product shots I take for my reviews are taken with the older brother of this camera. Below is a sample of a shot my wife took at Ft. Myers Beach, FL this summer of some palm trees early in the morning outside our hotel room.

Muzetto Laptop Case from Waterfield Designs – $259

A traditional gift for a recent college graduate heading off to graduate schools is a high-quality briefcase. While I would appreciate the thought, I’d much rather have a premium laptop case. Based on our experience with Waterfield Designs cases a great option is their Muzetto line of cases that fit anything from a 10″ tablet for $199 up to a 15″ laptop for $259. The vertical orientation bag has a leather flap to cover the computer.

The leather case has colored accents and a nice strap to carry over your shoulder. Inside are compartments for you computer, a phone, sunglasses and more. A computer in a protective sleeve or pouch would fit, giving you double the protection and the versatility of just pulling out the computer and taking it alone down the hall to a friend’s dorm for a study session.

I love Waterfield Designs products and think you will be pleased with one of these bags. You might want to look at the Racer-X if you want to go with a mid-range price. At the lower end is their Sleeve Case for the MacBook Air, which I reviewed and still love.

Slingbox and Mobile Apps – $299 + $29.99

A Slingbox hooks up to your TV and video source, like a cable box or Satellite, and streams the video from those sources to other TVs or the mobile app. This setup rocks for a student going off to college. Have the box connected to your home cable system, or satellite dish, and then you can load the iPad or another mobile app and watch content anywhere your mobile device has Internet access. It also supports watching through an Internet browser on a Mac of PC as well.

I live in North Carolina, grew up in Wisconsin and went to college in Kentucky. Before the days of DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket I only watched my beloved Green Bay Packers when the national game of the week featured them. I can afford the NFL Sunday Ticket, but a lot of college kids never could. And even if they could they would not be able to instal it in most dorm rooms because you need a DirecTV satellite dish. Slingbox and the mobile app gives them access to their home team, local news broadcasts and any other TV content without paying the cable or satellite man for a feed in the dorm or their apartment.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer – $399

Everyone knows about the iPad, so recommending it is too easy. Not many people know about the excellent ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, which I really like. It is cheaper than the iPad by about $100 and can do a little more. First, the optional keyboard dock connects to the tablet and turns it into a fully functional Android netbook and doubles the battery life thanks to the keyboard dock’s battery. I’ve used it to type for long periods of time and, while I would not give up my MacBook Air or Pro, the keyboard was good enough to use without getting frustrated or feeling cramped.

The tablet comes with Honeycomb. A 3.2 update makes it one of the earlier 3.2 tablets. The update is not earth–shattering, but it is nice to have. I love the bright crisp display, the responsive interface and the feel and weight. A forthcoming review will give more details, but for now I recommend this as the best Android tablet available because of the screen and the added functionality the keyboard dock with extended battery gives you. Take notes by day with the tablet in all of your classes and then use it as a netbook all evening long to write papers.

Now if only Android had as great a choice for tablet apps as the iPad we’d be set.

Just know this. ASUS will be probably release the Transformer 2 sometime this fall with a faster Tegra 3 processor, so you might want to hold off until then. If that doesn’t matter, the Eee Pad Transformer’s versatility makes it a great choice right now. Below is my first look:

Mili Pico Projector 2 HP-A10 – $449.95

Our friends at XenGadget sent one of these units over for review and it is cool. I’m testing the Mili Pico Projector (HP-A1) V2 out now, but based on limited experience I wanted to include this in our roundup for those Friday night movie nights in the dorm, or for an overnight at a friend’s house. The little projector is about the size of two stacked iPhones and has a dock port for an iPhone. Plug it in and the video will be projected through the tiny lens. The projector works best in dark rooms, but isn’t that how you want to watch a movie? The LED light projects the image. You won’t get HD, but remember, you are carrying your projector in your pocket.

The device has a battery so you don’t need to plug it into the wall outlet while watching your movies. You could do presentations from your phone, iPod touch, iPad or computer if needed. The latter can be done through a VGA input. The projector casts up to 70″ from corner to corner, although 40-50″ will look the best.

As you can see from the image, the device has a kickstand that folds out of the back. Connect it to external speakers or use the ones built into the projector. They might disappoint, so I’d suggest external speakers.

The device comes in either black or white for about $450. There is a nice carrying case and remote in the package too.

Gateway ID47H02u 14″ Laptop – $699

We look at a lot of notebooks, but the Gateway ID7Ho2u made our editor Josh Smith “do a double take” when he opened the box the first time. The screen offers an edge-to-edge display, meaning you get a nice width without a lot of bulk. The ID series of notebooks from Gateway have a little more style and performance than others from the budget manufacturers. Josh said it was “worth a closer look” for buyers who want something with some power at an affordable price.

Here are some of the basic specs:

• Intel Core i5 2nd Gen Processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 500GB Hard Drive
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• DVD Super Multi-Drive
• USB 3.0 that will charge while it sleeps
• VGA, HDMI out
• SD card reader
• Dolby Home Theater v.4 Audio
• Full size keyboard but no number pad
• Over sized mousepad

Apple MacBook Air – $999 for 11″

If money is no object, the one computer I would recommend to all students is the Apple MacBook Air. It is fast, light and looks cool. You can perform any basic educational task with it. It is under-powered for intense uses like gaming or creative content creation, but you can do limited video and photo editing with the included iPhoto and iMovie. I’ve played a few of the games available in the Mac App Store on my 2010 version. The 2011 MacBook Air has a faster processor and faster SSD too.

The 11″ travels perfectly for those taking it to class or for pulling it out on a public transportation commute or carpool. If you need more screen real estate, go with the 13″ model. I would also recommend adding 2GB of RAM and getting at least 128GB of storage, making the cost a few hundred dollars more than the base model. It will be worth it.

Check out our own Xavier Lanier’s posts about the out of the box experience and the battery life of the newer 2011 MacBook Air. You can also read about his first impressions. Below you can watch his unboxing video.

Back to School Gadget Buying Guide: 18 Fun and Productive Suggestions is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

iPhoto Print Books or Calendars – $3.99 to $49.99 or more

Mom’s love pictures of their family and children or grandkids. Apple makes very nice Photo printed products right from iPhoto if you have a Mac. You can get a small 3.5×2.6 soft cover photo book with 20 pages for as little as $3.99 with extra pages costing $.29 each up to 100 total pages. There are other sizes available at a higher price as follows:

• Soft cover medium 8×6 w/20 pages – $9.99 and $.49 for extra pages up to 100
• Soft cover large 11×8.5 w/20 pages – $19.99 and $.69 for extra pages up to 100
• Large hard cover 11×8.5 w/20 pages – $29.99 and $.99 for extra pages up to 100
• Extra-large hard cover 13×10 w/20 pages – $49.99 and $1.49 for extra pages up to 100

They also offer cards for the following prices:

• 5×7 special letterpress cards for $2.99 each
• folded cards for between $1.59-$1.99 depending on the number ordered
• flat cards for between $.99 and $1.49

Finally, they offer a 13×10.4 inch calendar with 12 months for $19.99. Additional months are $1.49 each.

Apple iPhoto Print Calendars

These are all made from within iPhoto and the orders go through Apple and can be shipped directly to you or your mom.

Whirl Mini Laser Mouse w/ Anti-Gravity Comfort Pivot – $49.99

The Whirl Mini Laser Mouse is an ergonomic mouse to help fight carpal tunnel syndrome

We reviewed this little ergonomic mouse and it’s bigger brother. The concept is the mouse is lifted off the surface by a stand that allows the user to tilt the thing at an angle that is more comfortable. Maybe your wife or mom has some carpel tunnel issues or complains about the discomfort of mousing all day. She can use this mouse and according to the company it does relieve stress on the wrists. It also takes some getting used to, so if you get her one of these warn her of the adjustment period. It is a nice size for those with small hands and for tossing in a computer bag.

They have six attractive colors to pick from. The are available at the company’s site or for a slightly discounted price at Amazon. Below is our review video:

SmartShopper Electronic Grocery List Organizer – $79.99

This little magnetic gadget hangs on your fridge and helps the whole family quickly create shopping lists. Just press the the blue Record button in the middle of the device and it turns on waiting for your to say what you want to add to the list. When you are ready to go shopping you print the list. It dispenses grocery receipt style lists organized by category. Below is a list of features the gadget boasts:

• Easy-to-use, hands-free voice operation
• Prints and automatically categorizes your lists
• Category Mgt. allows the user to match their store layout, change and add categories
• Powerful magnet mounts unit to your refigerator or metal cabinet
• Two lists can be individually named and kept simultaneously
• Flags items that you have coupons for
• Allows you to designate quantities
• Centrally located for the whole family to use
• Small enough to fit into your kitchen decor
• Built-in kitchen timer
• Comes pre-programmed with over 2500 items
• Allows you to add your own unique items and brands

And here is their mildly amusing commercial for the SmartShopper.

You can get them direct from the company. The device is $79.99 and with a bundle of three rolls of paper it is $89.99. Replacement rolls can be purchased for 10.99 for a pack of three or $59.99 for 18 rolls. The reviews at Amazon are actually quite good. If you like to get previous generation devices for cheaper Amazon has the old version for $30.

Apple iPod Nano 8GB – $149

If your wife or mom does not carry a smart phone that plays music, then an iPod is the perfect gift. Unless she has an enormous music collection we think the best option is the latest iPod Nano. The 8GB model is enough to carry a bunch of albums, audio books, or audio podcasts. The sound quality is great and the form factor is perfect for a purse or just carrying in her jeans. She can connect it with arm band for when she works out. And if she is a total geek, she can even turn it into a watch. We don’t recommend you suggest that or even get her one of the many bands, unless you want a gag gift to go along with it. Get the Nano and an iTunes gift card or better yet just load up a few of her favorite songs or books so she can listen ouf of the box.

Amazon Kindle eReader – $114-$189

The Amazon Kindle is the eReader that really started the whole eReader craze. Recently they began to offer a deal where you can get a 6″ Kindle for just $114 if you don’t mind seeing some ads. The ads will not be part of the books, but will be in the pages that are shown when the Kindle is in sleep mode. While this is okay if you just can’t afford the others, we recommend the Wi-Fi model without the ads for $139 or the model with built-in free 3G cellular service for $189. Amazon’s 3G service allows the user to download books over the air even when they are not in range of a Wi-Fi network. There is no monthly fee for this free service. The 3G feature is only necessary if you don’t have a Wi-Fi network or really want to buy books or magazines away from home, office, or a hotspot.

We recommend the Wi-Fi only model for $139. It’s not that much more than the ad-supported version. 3G is not really necessary. Get a book or two for mom to read right out of the box. You will need to register it with her Amazon account unless you are willing to buy all of her books. So don’t load it with a book using your own account. You can now gift Amazon eBooks so use her email address and send her the books that way.

For those with money to burn and think mom will want it, there is a large kindle with a 9.7-inch screen for $379.

Silo by iSkin: Slim, Tote and Messenger Bags – $140-$150

iSkin has some very nice bags for carrying around a laptop in style. They work with computers from 13-15 inches, both Mac and PC. There are multiple styles in three basic lines – the Slip, Tote and Messenger. They are designed by either Cako Martlin of Brazil or New York designer Esther Sanchez.

The Tote is designed to help you carry as much as you can in a small size. There are two sections with multiple pockets for smaller objects. The laptop section holds it in place witha  strap. The double handle allows mom to tote it over her shoulder while quickly getting at what’s inside. The padding protects what’s inside. Studs on the bottom elevate it to keep it from getting wet if there is some moisture on a table or the ground.

The Slim has a belt latch that she can pull to ease her computer out of the bag. It is designed to be the smallest of bags and thus holds the computer inside and has a zippered pocket on the outside. There is both a handle and a shoulder strap.

The Messenger is a little less girly. In fact guys will love this one too. It has plenty of interior space, so this is the workhorse of the three. There are pockets on the inside and a big one on the outside. The shoulder strap is padded so she won’t feel the weight of all her mobile gear.

These are all nice bags with varying styles to match her personality.

Nintendo DS and Brain Games – $149.99 plus games

When a couple of our people here at Notebooks.com suggested we add the Nintendo DS to this list, I thought they were crazy. Why would mom want a kids game system? But one of the popular things adults do with a Nintendo DS is play the brain stimulating games like Brain Age and Brain Age 2.

The purpose of Brain Age is to stimulate the mind to help keep it fresh. We adults often let our minds go to mush after we stop our formalized schooling. Just ask any adult who has returned to college after many years away from school. They have a harder time learning. This game is intended to help stimulate the mind with activities and problems like math, drawing and unscrambling of words.

Here is a review from a woman who enjoys her Brain Age 2 game:

Droid Incredible 2 Smart Phone – $199

This is a brand spanking new Android phone just released by Verizon on April 28. It has a 4-inch Super LCD display and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Mom will love the 8MP camera on the back and also a 1.3MP camera on the front for video conferencing via Skype, great for those moms who are far away from the kids or grandkids.

If mom is a mobile geek, she will love the ability to use the device as a mobile hotspot. If she’s a travelling mom she will like that it will work just about anywhere in the world, unlike many of Verizon’s phones.

For moms who need an AT&T alternative, the new white iPhone is always a good choice at $199 for a 16GB model and @$299 for a 32GB version. But remember, before buying an iPhone that there is likely to be a new one coming in the next six months. Some Geek moms like the latest and greatest, so getting her an iPhone now would be a mistake.

Nook Color – $249

We’ve always liked the Nook Color, especially if you are adventurous enough to root the thing and turn it into a a bargain Android tablet that can also be used to read Amazon Kindle books. Now that Barnes and Noble has added an app store, it is a bargain Android tablet without having to hack the thing. Although you can’t load the Amazon Kindle app.

Moms will love the ability to read for hours, play some simple games and surf the Internet on the 7″ eReader/tablet. The much improved email application in the new 1.2 update is also a great way to check for messages and delete the junk while out and about at a local Wi-Fi hotspot or the office. There is no 3G version available, but most people don’t need it or the extra bill that usually comes with mobile broadband for tablets.

If all your mom would like is an eBook reader, then stick with the Kindle. Both models are cheaper than the color and the battery lasts longer. For those who might want more, the Nook Color is the best choice.

Apple iPad 2 – $499-$829

The Apple iPad 2 is the best consumer tablet computer available for the price. Ranging from $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model up to $829 for the 64GB 3G model, few other tablets have been able to match Apple for price. There are other Android tablets on the market, but none has matched the features and apps available for Apple’s tablet. Mom will love it if you splurge for one of these.

Read our exhaustive team review over at Gottabemoble.com. And if your mom already has an iPad 2, that same link has reviews of many of the accessories that Apple released along with the new tablet. There are also app reviews of GarageBand and iMovie on that page. A great gift for an iPad owner would be to gift an app or get some iTunes gift cards. Sam’s Club has a great deal right now on $100 worth of cards for less than $80.

Toshiba Satellite L645 Notebooks – Starting at $515.99, Recommended model $699.99

A low priced notebook that isn’t too big, but also not so small that its only good for light office and Internet tasks is a great gift idea for a working mom. We are recommending the Toshiba Satellite L645 family of notebooks. They are priced right, come in 6 colors, and have decent processors (as long as you don’t choose the S4102 model which starts at $608). We don’t recommend that one because it has a pretty slow processor by comparison. If you are willing to get the top-of-the-line model in this family of notebooks, you would pay about $700 before tax for the S4037. For that you get the following:

• AMD Phenom II Triple Core Processor
• 14″ widescreen display with resolution of 1366×768
• ATI Mobility Radeon 4250 Graphics Card
• 500 GB hard drive
• 4 GB of DDR3 RAM
• DVD combo drive for burning/reading discs

If you don’t think mom needs that much horsepower, then consider the lower end S4040 which is the least expensive of this family of notebooks at $515.99. It only has a dual core processor, 3GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive and integrated graphics. It is designed more for the basics while the above S4037 is a more powerful middle of the road computer which can handle a little more demanding work like some creative content creation (basic video and photo editing), some gaming and will be an overall faster machine.

Mother’s Day Tech Gift Guide: Gadgets, Tablets Smartphones and More [2011] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

We had a preview of the service last week and spoke with co founder Manish Rathi, to find out what sets Retrevo apart from the competitors like Best Buy or Amazon.com, and to see how Retrevo would remain an authoritative voice on consumer electronics while selling them.

The biggest thing that sets Retrevo apart form the competition is the information and education that the website offers to buyers. It has long been one of our favorite resources for finding out if a gadget is new, at its prime or on the way out. The best part is that Retrevo is able to provide all of this information in a manner that is easy to understand so we can tell our friends and family to visit the site and look around for themselves without holding their hand through the educational process.

These Real Time reviews, which are powered by advanced AI and algorithms allow Retrevo to deliver a snapshot of the product like you see above, which makes it easy to understand who the product is for. Additionally, the Retrevo Guides help steer shoppers towards the right products for their needs, instead of the products that a salesperson specifically likes at Best Buy.

One of the key issues that Retrevo faced when the company decided to open up a marketplace is how to remain objective and to keep providing users with the recommendations that they want and need. The solution was to rely on the algorithms, rather than humans to recommend products and to not sell certain items. As you look over the Retrevo Marketplace, you’ll find something you won’t see at Best Buy or Amazon — a Do Not Add to Cart Button.

Do Not Add to Cart Button at Retrevo

The Do Not Add to Cart Button appears on items that Retrevo wouldn’t recommend you purchase. Retrevo will show you other items that may be offer a better value, but if you do want to purchase the item, you can still find links to other sites, such as Amazon, where the product is sold.

So far the store looks pretty nice, and the prices are competitive. We’ll keep an eye on the Retrevo Marketplace to see how the Do Not Buy strategy pans out over time.

Do Not Buy Button: Retrevo Launches Consumer Electronics Store with a Twist is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Flickr owensoft

First off there are many more gadgets available for comparison than primary care doctors for many Americans. While you can hop online and start looking for gadgets at Amazon, Best Buy, eBay and a hundred other locations when you go looking for a new primary physician you need to find one within a reasonable distance from your home and one that is also covered by your health insurance plan which severely limits the scope.

Assuming you did want to do additional research for a healthcare provider, doing so online isn’t nearly as easy as looking up gadget reviews. Some doctors have included “gag orders” in new patient signup forms to prevent online reviews of the doctor. Thankfully we haven’t come across a new gadget license agreement that prohibits bad online reviews.

Further complicating the problem is the fact that most American consumers will gladly post their thoughts on the latest iPod anywhere, but when it comes to talking about medical information we are pretty quiet outside of our close circle of friends.

Other findings from the study backup the issues we’ve stated about finding information about healthcare online including;

• Two-thirds (67%) of adults wish they could find more comprehensive information about doctors online.
  • Almost three-quarters (73%) of people under 35 agreed that they wanted to be able to find more comprehensive information about doctors online.
• More than half (51%) of adults agree it is hard to find information on a doctor.
• About seven in ten (71%) adults wish doctors would share information about their medical background and expertise online.
  • Almost four in five (78%) of those adults aged 18 to 34 said they wish doctors would share more information online.

via SlashGear

Tech Purchases Researched More than Doctors (Survey) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

10. The Glif

The Glif was introduced to the world as a Kickstarter project from Studio Neat, a pair of creative guys who like the iPhone 4, but really like it’s camera and screen. They wanted to devise a way to hook their iPhone up to a tripod so they could do a little high quality video and image capture. And the result was The Glif.

The reason we got so excited is we agree that the camera on the iPhone is truly great. Being able to carry around this little mount along with our iPhone and a small tripod we can now use the iPhone to do HD quality videos of some of the products we review, family photos, and pretty nature shots. Sure you wouldn’t use it for serious professional image capture. Or would you? The camera is not that good, but it is good enough for many of our simple needs and the glif makes a small HD camera or point-and-shoot still camera unnecessary.

In addition to hooking the iPhone 4 up to a tripod, you can use it as a stand so you can watch video or show off pictures at your desk or on a plane. If you use Facetime, this would be a great tool for holding the iPhone 4 on your desk.

9. Nook Color

Tablets are taking over and digital book readers are now becoming mainstream devices. When people who need help loading pictures on the digital photo frame, begin buying a Kindle, then you know the era of digital books is here.

The reason we chose the Nook Color as our ninth most exciting new tech toy of 2010 is more about what it might do in the future than what it does now. We are taking a leap of faith by selecting this one.

The Nook Color is an eBook reader that has a bright and beautiful color screen. It runs an older version of the Android operating system from Google. And that makes it an Android tablet. There has been talk that sometime in early 2011 it will be updated to Android 2.2 AKA FroYo. It does not have the Android Market Place and likely won’t then either. But with an SD card this little 7″ color tablet can be rooted and forced to run Android apps once that update comes. As a result, not only might it read eBooks and do a little web surfing (which it can now), but it might also be able rooted and then Kindle books with Amazon’s app, play Angry Birds and so much more.

We haven’t even told you the exciting part yet. This thing only costs $250. To root it you will need a 64GB microSD card which can add another $175. But that’s not bad for a 7″ tablet running Android 2.2 with apps.

8. Wireless 4G

4G is the next iteration of wireless broadband. It is exciting because it is fast. Sadly it is also not available in much of the country, but should be more widely available in 2011 and nearly everywhere that 3G is available now by the end of 2012.

Verizon’s 4G technology is called LTE and is mostly available in bigger markets with NFL teams. The rest of us will have to wait for a year or two. But it is so fast, that a recent test found that the network would let you download your 5GB limit in about half an hour. They should be offering phones from Motorola and Samsung according to a report cited by our colleagues at Gottabemobile.com.

Sprint started this party with WiMax. They claim that, with 4G, downloads will be up to 10 times faster than 3G. Their 4G is an “all you can stream, browse, email, chat, watch and game” network. So there won’t be the typical 5GB limit. The two interesting devices they offer are the HTC EVO 4G and the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot. The second one is like the MiFi – a wireless broadband router that can connect up to five devices to the Internet. We have more on the HTC below since it is our #7 most exciting new gadget for 2010.

AT&T is getting in on the 4G game too but won’t be leaping with both feet until 2011. They just bought some spectrum from Qualcomm to do just that.

7. HTC EVO 4G

This is really the combination of two exciting technologies for 2010. Android was announced before this year, but it has taken off as a mobile operating system this year. One of the most interesting Android mobile phones, according to the experts at Gottabemobile.com is the HTC EVO 4G. (See #8 on our list above)

According to our friend Chuong Nguyen, the HTC EVO 4G is the standout Android smart phone of the year. Here is what he said:

I think the HTC EVO 4G is one of the Android flagship phones and first 4G phone in the U.S. 2010 as the year when tethering became mainstream via phone maybe? And also the rise of mobile broadband use with increased smartphone adoption, leading to 4G marketing hype that also resulted in AT&T’s (unfortunate) cap on unlimited data. (Chuong Nguyen)

This beautiful wonder is now showing up at Best Buy, according to Nguyen.

6. Roku XDS

The first Roku actualy came out before 2010, but we’re cheating by putting the most recent update on the list because it is just awesome. If you are a Netflix customer, like to rent movies from Amazon or watch podcasts from Twit or Revision3, you will love the Roku XDS. With the addition of the Playon TV channel you can add dozens of other Internet streaming channels including some of the networks not available anywhere else but via a computer. And now there is also access to hulu PLUS.

The Roku XDS does wireless and Ethernet connectivity, HD signals via an HDMI port, streaming from a USB hard drive or flash drive, and has lots of content, including Blip.tv and Pandora. The remote is better than previous version now with more features, like a back button and a 30 second instant rewind button. Yet even with all the improvements it is still simple to set up and use. We had it hooked up and running within about 15 minutes. Of all the streaming to a TV Internet devices, Roku is the best. It is better than the AppleTV, Western Digital’s WDTV, Google TV and probably Boxee Box, although we haven’t tested that one.

The Roku comes in three different versions. The simple HD box is only $59.99 while the XD is $79.99 and the XDS is $99.99. The XDS can be purchased from Amazon for a slight discount at $95.75.

5. iPhone 4

Apple had some public relations issues with the iPhone 4 from a strange and possibly criminal leak to Gizmodo to some issues with their new external antenna. Despite all that, the iPhone 4 is one of the most popular consumer electronic devices of all time and still dominates the smart phone market. The addition of a front facing camera, the upgrade to the beautiful retina display, and the great HD camera that also takes great still images make this an exciting upgrade. Now with multitasking and better email support, the phone is even easier to use as well.

Below is a cool video showing off what you can do with the iPhone 4 video camera from Tested.com.

4. Microsoft Kinect

A few of our writers are excited about the Microsoft Kinect and some of their family members will be enjoying it this holiday season. The Kinect is an add-0n for the popular Xbox 360 gaming system. The device sold 2.5 Million units in its first 25 days on the market including the Black Friday weekend.

Taking a cue from the Nintendo Wii’s popularity Microsoft introduced the Kinect, a way of controlling the gaming system without the use of a controller. To kick a soccer ball just act like you are kicking. To run, start running. The Kinect has a camera that senses your movements and translates that into controlling the on screen action.

What is truly exciting is not just the gaming uses, but the way it is being hacked it to do other things. We think that soon Microsoft will add 3D motion sensing into Windows so that we can control our computers without need of a mouse or sometimes keyboards. And report says Microsoft is going to dramatically improve the sensor soon.

Bundled with an Xbox 360 and one game it costs $299. By itself it can be had for only $150.

3. Apple MacBook Air

The Apple MacBook Air is the best ultra-mobile notebook we’ve ever used. In our review and our publisher’s review at our sister site, Gottabemobile.com, we had very little to say that was bad about this notebook. It is ultra light, ultra fast despite its ordinary specs, and we think it will be setting a trend for where notebook coputers will be going for years to come. Besides size and speed, it has a beautiful screen, a full keyboard, even on the 11″ model, and it has instant on capability if you use sleep mode instead of powering it down completely.

The battery lasts a good four to five hours on full screen brightness and more when you dim the display and turn off wireless except when you have to have it. The MacBook Air is a little expensive starting at $999. And the strength – the fast SSD – is also a weakness due to small size. But it is worth the trade offs. Below is our video review.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab

Apple doesn’t get all the love this year. Samsung poked its way into our top three with their Android 2.2 tablet the  Samsung Galaxy Tab. We’ve only had limited time with it, but this is a great little tablet running Google’s FroYo. It will only get better as Google makes their OS more tablet friendly. If only the wireless carriers had not disabled the ability to make calls with it, something possible in other countries.

Smaller than the iPad, some say it has a better form factor with its 7″ display, making it easier to carry. The screen is bright and beautiful and with the Android Market Place it has plenty of great apps. There are also features the iPad doesn’t have like a camera and an SD card port.

We are not excited about the way the wireless carriers are selling the device. You can get it without a monthly contract but it is more expensive than the iPad. With a monthly contract it is only about $400 from a couple of carriers.

Currently the Samsung Galaxy Tab is available through AT&T for $649.99 without a monthly contract, Sprint and T-Mobile for for $399.99 with a monthly contract and $599.99 without one, US Cellular for $599.99 without a contract, and Verizon for $599.99 with a contract.

1. Apple iPad

No other device has captured our attention like the Apple iPad. It has been a revolutionary device for many of us here at Notebooks.com. Sure, some are not using it as much as they expected. But large numbers of people are buying them and many more are longing to.

The iPad is an iOS device just like the iPhone and iPod Touch. In fact the early criticism from many was, “It’s just a big iPod Touch!” And our answer is, “Of course.” But the difference is size makes all the difference in the world.

The ability to read, surf the Internet, check email, watch TV or movies with apps like Netflix, hulu PLUS, the ABC TV app, and the built-in YouTube and Video player all make this a wonderful personal computer with the emphasis on the word personal.

We’ve shared with you some wonderful iPad Apps in our iPad App of the Week series. Here are our top iPad Apps of the Year. And it is all about the apps, since that is what makes all the iOS devices great.

In reviewing devices we sometimes give a product high praise after a few weeks of use and then realize we were too generous. But occasionally we don’t fully grasp how useful a product can be at the time of our review only to discover after months of use that it is better than we thought. The iPad is just that kind of device. We called it functional. But today we would probably say it is life-changing. It has been just that. It has changed the way we consume content at home, do our work on the job, and research both at home and work. That’s why the Apple iPad is the most exciting new gadget of 2010.

You know a product is going mainstream when it gets metioned in some popular media outlets. Below is David Letterman’s hilarious Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself When Waiting In Line for the iPad.

The Apple iPad comes in a Wi-Fi only version with three storage capacities (16GB for $499, 32GB for $599 and 64GB for $699) and a Wi-Fi plus 3G version using the AT&T network again in three storage capacies (16GB for $529, 32GB for $629 and 64GB for $729). There are pretty good discounts on refurbished models at the Apple refurbished products store.

Top 10 Most Exciting New Gadgets for 2010 is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The skit covers the easy targets like BlackBerry, Apple, Orange and Windows and also is able to bring in the Xbox 360 for a final laugh. Say what you will about the tech naming schemes that revolve around fruits and the like, but they are a good deal better than the naming schemes used by some companies that make it impossible to know which laptop, netbook or processor is the newest!

Via Engadget

Funny Video About the Naming Schemes of Tech Companies from the BBC is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Road trips these days aren’t complete without a few MP3 players, smart phones and possibly a tablet, netbook or laptop. What you need to take along with you depends on how far your going, how you’re getting there and how much of an escape you’ll need from the people that are at your final destination.

We don’t travel far, just an hour round trip during the holidays, but being the tech experts that our family counts on we are under standing orders from grandpa to show up with the coolest toys and to help our uncle understand his new Android smartphone.

While we took the MacBook Air along at Thanksgiving for Christmas we’ll be going lightweight with a MiFi, iPad and Motorola Droid as well as a Sony TX9 digital camera to make sure we can do some picture taking of the large family that awaits! The iPad is a no brainer as pretty much everyone in the family wants to play a game, hop online or just check it out and the MiFi is how we get connected. We also used the MiFi to get an Xbox 360 online at Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t the best Xbox Live experience we’ve ever had.

Our mobile phone expert from GottaBeMobile, Chuong Nguyen will be  going light with only a Nokia N8 in tow for communicating and entertaining on his trip. Hopefully he doesn’t need to do a lot of typing on the trip! Though with a camera that’s good enough to shoot a magazine cover he’s more than prepared to capture the trip.

Our resident iPad App expert and new Mac convertor Kevin Purcell is heading halfway across the country to Wisconsin and for a trip of that magnitude he’ll be taking his MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone, Mifi, Canon G12 camera and flip hd video camera for a week long trip.

Warner Crocker, the tablet toting theater man from GottaBeMobile will be taking his MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone for a fortnight long trip to Chicago which will be enough to keep him connected and all combined should provide him with a full days worth of work without hunting for an outlet.

It’s not just the geeks that are taking technology on road trips anymore, one of our co-workers is on the road with a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop, a Virgin Mobile USB modem and a ZyXEL MWR211 to keep her son connected on a very long car ride and to hop online in the hotel without spending $13 a day.

How far will you be traveling this year and what tech do you have to have along for holiday trips?

Holiday Travel: A Look at the Tech We’re Taking With Us is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Revolution Plus jacket is $200 and has 26 pockets, including a special PadPocket that holds an iPad or laptop. In addition to this large and impressive pocket, the Revolution Plus has two that have cleartouch enclosures which allow you to use your cell phone, a pocket that spans the back of the device and many more to hold specific items like memory cards, ID or travel documents. Other notable features include a removable hood and a removable sleeves. Check out the X-Ray image below for a more detailed look at the pockets.

Usefulness:

The ScotteVest Revolution Plus coat echoes the experience we’ve had with other ScotteVest items like the Fleece 5.0 in that all of the pockets have a specific use and even if we aren’t using every pocket all of the time we still enjoy having pockets where we want them that hold specific gadgets just like we would want them to. The real magic of a ScotteVest isn’t that it has so many pockets, it’s that the pockets do what you want them to.

In our use of the PadPocket, we definitely felt that it is best suited for the iPad, not a laptop — even though you can carry a light laptop there in a pinch. One thing worth mentioning is that with the iPad in our pocket and the coat zipped up we had a few odd movements and bulges when walking up stairs due to the way the iPad sits in the jacket. This didn’t detract from the joy we experienced by taking the iPad and papers for class from one building to the other on campus without exposing them to the elements. This left our hands free to stay warm in pockets or check email on our phone.

ScotteVest Revolution Plus Jacket Review Video:

Warmth and Protection:

We were a bit concerned that we wouldn’t have enough variation in weather to put the Revolution Plus to the test given our warm and mild fall, but this past week has allowed us to wear the jacket in cold rain, snow and windy weather. In all elements we were happy with the results. In the rain moisture beaded up on the outside, keeping our iPad dry and we didn’t have any water seep in at the sleeves.

In the wind and snow, with temps in the 20′s were were just as warm as we were in a Columbia coat which surprised us because the Columbia Jacket has a fleece interior. The Revolution Plus has a quilted interior which adds to the warmth. We will test the jacket out when temps get closer to zero here in Ohio, but we definitely feel that the jacket will keep us warm as we go through our daily activities. If it does get really cold, the XL size we have leaves enough room for a fleece liner for added warmth.

Comfort:

Not only does the Revolution Plus have more than enough pockets, it is also a really comfortable coat that fits well. We especially liked that the sleeves can be snugged up or rolled up when needed. If you are trying to decide what size to get, we recommend trying on a Columbia jacket at a local retailer and ordering a similar size; just make sure you keep in mind the gadgets you want to keep in it.

Value and Conclusions:

Overall the ScotteVest Revolution Plus jacket is a great coat and a great gadget accessory. If you’re looking for the perfect jacket for geeks and gadget lovers you’ve found it. If you’re looking for a great winter coat that can carry your gear and keep you warm this is the jacket for you. Even if you only travel to the office, mall and around town you’ll appreciate the ScotteVest Revolution Plus Jacket.

ScotteVest Revolution Plus Jacket Review: Pockets, Protection & Warmth is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

In Windows 7 Microsoft made some welcome changes to the Gadget experience. In Windows Vista, Gadgets were tied to the Windows Sidebar desktop panel which kept a rack of all your Gadgets in use. Although you could drag them off in Windows Vista and have them displayed anywhere on the desktop, it did not seem as well integrated as they should have been.

Windows 7 improves the Gadget experience by making Gadgets free to roam the desktop removing the Sidebar panel itself. Gadgets can also be snapped to any side of the screen like magnets. Another improvement is the ability to resize some Gadgets, the Slideshow or CPU meter for instance can be enlarged.

Find and Add a Gadget

Very quick and easy task, right click your desktop and click Gadgets or you can click Start and type Desktop Gadgets and hit Enter on your keyboard.

This will open the Desktop Gadget Gallery which displays a collection of all your install Gadgets:

If you would like information about a Gadget, click on it and click the Show Details button at the bottom of window. You will find information such as the version and a description. If you have a lot of Gadgets installed, you can use the built in search feature.

To add a Gadget to your desktop, just double click it or drag and drop on the desktop.

To close the Gadget if you don’t want it to be displayed anymore, hover over the Gadget and click the close button.

How to get more Gadgets

If you would like to get more Gadgets for your Windows 7 computer, just click the Get more gadgets online link in the Desktop Gadgets window or go to http://www.gallery.microsoft.com

The Gadgets Gallery provides a wide range of Gadgets for Windows 7, you can choose products such as Instant Messaging, Social Networking or System Maintenance to name a few. To add a Gadget to my desktop from Gadgets Gallery, click the Download button.

For this example, I want to download a Twitter Gadget, since it’s already displayed on the front page. If you don’t see the desired Gadget, you can also search for it. After clicking Download, Save the gadget to your computer.

Double click the Gadget file and follow the instructions to install it.

The Gadget will be automatically added to your desktop or you can add it from Gadget gallery.

Uninstall a Gadget

After a while, you might end up having a lot of Gadgets installed, some you might not need anymore or find irrelevant. Uninstalling a Gadget is very easy.

Just right click on the Gadget in the Gadget Gallery and click Uninstall

How to Find and Add Windows Gadgets is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

For the Week of July 16th the big news is the iPhone 4 and the reception problems that have plagued a collection of vocal users. The building anger burst forth this week with many publications calling for an iPhone 4 recall after Consumer Reports confirmed and then called on Apple to fix the reception problem so that consumers don’t have to. The iPhone 4 drama continues today when Apple will be holding a press conference to address the concerns of consumers.

Highlights from Notebooks:

• Toshiba R705 Unboxing and Hands On – Video of the new ultraportable and affordable notebook from Toshiba.
• Back To School Notebooks and Gadgets From Sony – New notebooks and gadgets from Sony that are fit for the dorm.
• Jolicloud 1.0 Hands On Video – New release of this designed for the netbook operating system impresses.
• Evernote Trunk Announced – Collection of useful tools that can connect to Evernote and provide additional functionality
• Virgin Mobile BroadBand2Go USB Adapter Review – A look at how this affordable pre-paid mobile broadband setup works.

Highlights from GottaBeMobile:

• GBM Shortcut: Note Taker HD Brings Ink to iPad – Video review of a new Ink enabled iPad note taker app.
• Why wait for a Windows 7 slate when you can get one now? – Collection of Windows 7 slates for thsoe who are as “hardcore” about tablets as Microsoft.
• Smaller iPads with OLED? Don’t bank on it. – Sumocat weighs in on the likelihood of a smaller OLED powered iPad this fall.
• Brando Folding Bluetooth Keyboard – Warner points us towards a rollable, portable bluetooth keyboard fit for the iPhone and iPad crowd.

Top tech news from around the web:

• Google Android tablets to get Android Market access soon? – Liliputing
• Review of the Alienware M11x Gaming Notebook with Optimus – Laptop Mag
• Droid X and HTC EVO 4G Head-toHead – JKOnTheRUn
• iMo Monster 10″ Touch USB Monitor Review -SlashGear
• How well does the HP Pavilion dm1z handle gaming (video) – NetBookNews.com

Notebooks.com Week in Review – July 16th is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.