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.

href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/popout-the-night-before-christmas/id405900282?mt=8">PopOut!
The Night Before Christmas – $1.99

This is a
fun “pop out” version of the favorite Holiday story, The
Night Before Christmas. Your children will enjoy the
interactive nature of the book as it lets you pull and manipulate
items on the page much like you would a traditional popout. style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
src="http://notebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mzl.kxrykdin.320x480-75.jpg"
border="0" alt="mzl.kxrykdin.320x480-75.jpg" width="480"
height="320" />

href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-christmas-carol-for-ipad/id401507863?mt=8">A
Christmas Carol – $2.99

This is an enjoyable
eBook version which our friend Warner Crocker at href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2010/12/10/scrooge-and-a-christmas-carol-on-the-ipad/">Gottabemobile
already highlighted. The app’s descriptions says it has
“steampunk-style animation, illustrations, original score, sound
effects, and hidden Easter eggs of bonus content will draw you into
the story’s unforgettable lessons of darkness, despair, joy and
life.” It is a fun way to experience the classic favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTxwDK1t0vE

href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cut-the-rope-holiday-gift/id406513121?mt=8">Cut
the Rope Holiday Edition – Free

This is a fun
physics game. The goal is to help get the starlight min into your
little fun little monster. You do this by going through the
different puzzles. It is easy at first, but gets a little more
challenging with each round. The original was a lot of fun too, but
Chillingo is offering this version for free for a limited time.
src="http://notebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mzl.zlfvzpbb.320x480-75.jpg"
border="0" alt="mzl.zlfvzpbb.320x480-75.jpg" width="320"
height="480" />

href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284035177&mt=8">Pandora
- Free

There are a bunch of holiday music apps, but why
waste the time downloading one when you can just set up the
Christmas music channel on one of the best music streaming apps and
services available. In case you didn’t know, Pandora is a service
that lets you stream music for free on the Internet. They have a
good iPad App too.

href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fireplace/id342649545?mt=8">Fireplace
- $.99

Fireplace is a yule log app which lets you pick
from 3 different fireplaces. I’m not sure why, but we love to look
at fire. No fireplace? Then try this app. It will let you choose
from three different fireplaces and play your own music from the
iPad while you get romantic. src="http://notebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mzl.jaajsvad.320x480-75.jpg"
border="0" alt="mzl.jaajsvad.320x480-75.jpg" width="480"
height="320" />

href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/in-kitchen-food-network-recipes/id399072152?mt=8">In
the Kitchen: Food Network Recipes, Chefs, Cooking Tools and
Shopping Lists – $1.99

Have you any idea how
to make _______ (fill in the black with your favorite holiday
dish)? This app will help you take care of that. The Food Network
app is good all year long but has some holiday recipes in time for
Christmas and New Years. src="http://notebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mzl.uotlbiut.320x480-75.jpg"
border="0" alt="mzl.uotlbiut.320x480-75.jpg" width="320"
height="480" />

Holiday iPad Apps to Help Celebrate Christmas is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The perfect gift for your iPad fan or for someone who’s also getting an iPad this holiday season could be a case. This is a very personal kind of thing as most iPad users have a particular style of case that they enjoy. So we give you a recommendations in a few different styles, from a slim silicon skin case to book style folio cases, and a case useful for carrying more than just the iPad. The last two are unique cases for special circumstances.

One case that is conspicuously absent from this guide is the Apple iPad Case. That is not a mistake or oversight. Our review of the case was less than positive. In fact after ordering it when we first purchased our ipad, we returned it as soon as possible preferring at first a netbook case over the horrible Apple case. Since then we have found some wonderful cases and here are some of the best. Read on so you don’t make the same mistake we made with Apple’s case.

Thanks for checking out the Notebooks.com Gift Guide 2010 series. We want you to have a great holiday season so we have pulled together a collection of gift guides that make it easier to shop for everyone you know. These gifts have been hand picked by the staff at Notebooks.com and have been deemed worthy of giving to someone you care about.

iSkin Duo for iPad – $49.99

If you only want a small protective skin to keep the iPad from getting scratched and dinged for use around the house or at work, then a good silicone skin might be the best bet. The colorful iSkin Duo cases are just that. The iSkin Duo has a unique feature in that it not only protects the edges and back, as most iPad silicone skins do, but it adds a frame of black covering around the front screen. The only thing exposed is the display itself. Also, if you use the Apple iPad Dock, this skin is one of the few cases that does not have to be removed to actually use the dock. Finally, the company claims it is made of a material free of harmful chemicals that also resists bacteria. If so, it might also be a more healthy case. We had no way of testing that without sending off to some kind of CSI-like lab. But we do know it was comfortable to use and easy to install. The only thing we didn’t like was the price. But all iPad cases are about $20 too much. So with that in mind, this is not out of sight. The good news is the clear case shows up at Amazon for only $35. And if you search Amazon you can find the others for similar deals.

Scosche foldIO p1 iPad Case – $49.99

We recently reviewed this folio case/stand combination and declared it the best of class for folio cases. What makes it so special is that it is a good combination of form and function plus fashion. The stand function of the case works well and is easy to transform from a case to stand. The size of the case is low profile meaning it doesn’t add much bulk to the case while still protecting the iPad. Finally, it looks nice. There were only minor flaws which you can read about in our review. One of those is the horrible name. Despite the name and minor quality problems, it is our choice for the best folio case for the iPad. Below you will find our video review.

To get a deal, head over to Amazon where the sale price is a hair over $33.

Incase Convertible Book Jacket Case – $59.95

The Incase Convertible Book Jacket Case was beaten out by the above Scosche foldIO p1 iPad Case for only two reasons – it adds more weight and thickness to the iPad and it is slightly more costly. Other than that, it is every bit as good and takes the 2nd place in our list of top iPad cases. Some people might actually prefer the added bulk since it is likely to make the iPad more secure. But we prefer going with a smaller form. If you disagree then this is the perfect choice. It also has a nice elastic band to hold the cover over the iPad when not in use. Oure review of the white version can be read or seen in the video below.

We prefer darker cases so suggest you pick this black one. But aside from this black case or the white one in our review there are other colors like Charcoal, Vermillion or Deep Violet.

Waterfield Designs iPad Wallet Case – $79

Folio cases are not all there is when it comes to iPad cases. This case from Waterfield Designs is a beautiful option for those who want carry more than just their iPad. The iPad Wallet Case comes in a number of beautiful colors and is a handcrafted case that has a very professional yet home made look and feel to it. The company makes some of the nicest cases for any electronic item including iPhones, laptops and more.

The iPad Wallet Case is unique because it can not only carry an iPad in it’s protective zipper case, but also has a pocket specifically designed to fit the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. Add to that a pocket for peripherals, and this is the perfect tool for someone who plans to use their iPad on the road as a laptop replacement. We love this case and the only reason we are not using it full-time is our preference for folio style cases. The good news is a user can take advantage of both a small form factor folio case like the Scosche foldIO p1 Case above and still use the Wallet Case for those extended road trips. Check out our written review or the video review below.

The basic model is $79. Buyers can get a pair of D-rings added for $5 extra. That makes it useful as a shoulder bag if you have your own strap. Straps from Waterfield Designs come in two styles for either $9 or $19 depending on whether you want a basic strap or one with extra padding. We reviewed the basic model and don’t think you need any more than that.

Otherbox iPad Defender Series Case – $89.95

If you need more than average or typical protection because your iPad will be used in extreme environments or you just want extra peace of mind, then our Editor’s Choice Otterbox iPad Defender Series Case is a good option. It is a rugged, hard shell case that protects everything from the screen to the ports and every other inch of your iPad. It is a hard shell around the entire device.

You can either read our written review or see the video review below.

Zaggmate Keyboard Case – $99.99

One of the cases we really wanted to like which we tested earlier this fall was one of the keyboard cases from Kensington. Unfortunately, it was just okay. The biggest problem was the keyboard itself. But of all the cases that incorporate a Bluetooth keyboard only this one from Zaggmate has a different form factor. All the rest seem to be the same case and keyboard just rebranded with different names on it or slightly different cases. This one however is a hard shell aluminum case with a keyboard integrated into it.

We have not had this one in for testing, but the price and unique form factor gave us the courage to go out on a bit of a limb and recommend it. Here is one review from an actual user who really likes the case.

The case is aluminum and the keys are plastic. The edges of the keyboard are raised to keep the screen from scratching against the keys. And the raised aluminum edge might annoy some users, but the above review said this actually forces you to type the right way helping protect against repetitive stress injuries.

While this is in our lineup, we put it here because the explosion of this style of case shows this is something wanted by users. If you are such a person this looks like a better solution than the Kensington case we tested. Or just pick up the Waterfield Designs case above and the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: iPad Cases is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Thanks for checking out the Notebooks.com Gift Guide 2010 series. We want you to have a great holiday season so we have pulled together a collection of gift guides that make it easier to shop for everyone you know. These gifts have been hand picked by the staff at Notebooks.com and have been deemed worthy of giving to someone you care about.

Scosche HP60D Chameleon Earbuds – $19.99

Cheap earbuds are nothing to get excited about. Parents don’t want to pay a lot for them because it is likely they will be lost, washed in pair of jeans, or just abused till broken. But at $20 retail, these Scosche HP60D Chameleon Earbuds are not going to break the bank while still offering something cool. They have interchangeable color caps, so the earbuds can be black one day, red the next and then silver, depending on your kid’s mood or outfit. If you want other colors, hit the link above and check out the other offerings listed below the H60D. Do they sound good? Well few earbuds are going to inspire like a pair of high quality headsets, but at $20 they will do the trick for your teen. If you don’t mind shopping at eBay, this store has them for $4 less with a nearly 100% buyer rating. Or, for a little less than Scoshe sells them directly, you can go with Amazon and get the same set only with a built-in mic for your child to use with his or her iPhone.

Call of Duty Black Ops – $50 for PC Version

Call of Duty is one of the most popular first person shooter war games available. And it doesn’t matter if your teen gamer has a PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or even a Wii, there is a version available. Realize this is an M-rated game, but some of what makes it so can be turned off in the options. We promise, that if your gamer doesn’t have this game, he or she will be happy if you buy it for them this Christmas.

Canon PowerShot SD1300IS Digital Camera – $129.99

If your teenager likes to take pictures, this is a great little camera that is so easy to use. It also takes really good pictures. We’ve used it to shoot some of the products we review. It is simple, has good color, and is inexpensive. The camera has a 4x optical zoom lens, which means it can get in close in casual settings with friends. This is not a camera for shooting action photos at the football game on Friday night, unless your teen likes to crop pictures on the computer. And it is not perfect in low light settings. But the image stabilization does help keep pictures sharp in average to bright light. The sensor that records the image is capable of taking up to 12MP images, which means they can be printed at 8×10 and have that photo realistic look. The camera is also capable of shooting video. It is not HD quality video, but they do look decent for casual shooting. Sound quality is acceptable. At the price, this is a nice camera for a teenager who is not a photo enthusiast, but wants something to take snaps of friends and fun times.

Apple iPod Touch 8GB – $229

We think the iPod Touch is the perfect MP3 player for your teenager because she will love being able to use it to play movies and music, games, and when in range of a Wi-Fi signal, chatting with friends, texting via one of the many free texting apps in the app store, or for Facetime with her friends who also will be getting one of the new 5th generation iPod Touches this Christmas. The new camera can also be used as a digital point-and-shoot with the capability of shooting average quality snapshots. We picked the 8GB to keep the price low, but you can get her a 32GB model for $299 or a 64GB model for $399. It just depends on your budget and how good she was this year.

Apple iPad – $499

We were not too keen on putting two Apple devices in this gift guide. But as a recent Nielson study found, behind a new computer or smart phone, the thing teenagers want most is an iPad. When we asked our experts, a 16-year-old, that was his first request. The iPad has become one of the most popular electronic gadgets selling millions in its first year. It is a computer, an entertainment device, a gaming device, an eBook reader, an Internet tool, a communications tool, and a reference tool. Your child can learn, play and discover new things. While $500 is a lot of money and we know that most of you won’t be dropping that kind of scratch for junior’s gift, those who will, rest assured. An iPad will make then believe you really are Santa Claus. For a limited time the iPad can be purchased from the refurbished Apple store for only $429.

HP Pavilion dv7t Select Edition Series – starting at $899.99

One of the things young people don’t like about laptops is the audio. They want to listen to great music or enjoy life like audio in games and movies. So HP is attempting to fit the bill with their laptops with HP Beats Audio. We were tempted to put the HP Envy 14, which also has Beats Audio, but that model is just too expensive. Even at a penny shy of $900, your child would have to have been exceptionally deserving to get one of these under the tree. But if a laptop is on your shopping list, then read on to see if our recommendation is what your child might enjoy.

The HP Pavilion dv7t is a large, 17.3″ laptop. It’s not meant to be highly portable. This is a computer that will likely sit on your child’s desk and occasionally go with him/her to the living room or a friends house.

Inside it comes with an Intel Core i5 processor. The Intel Core i7 is also available as an option for a premium. The minimum level graphics chip available is the an ATI Mobility Radeon 5470 powering a 1600×900 resolution display, which is great for gaming or watching movies in 720p HD. There are more powerful ATI chips also available. And the laptop comes standard with a DVD burner. A Blu-ray player is optional.

Right now HP is offering a free upgrade to 6GB of memory and a 750GB hard drive.

The standard 6-cell battery is rated for 5 hours with a 9-cell promising to lengthen that. We would guess that if you can get 3.5-4 hours, that would be doing well.

Even if you go with all the bare minim specs, this is a nice entertainment computer that your teenager can use through his or her high school years and even into college.

Gift Guide 2010: Gifts for High School Students is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

After agreeing that you won’t abuse the system, you’ll be asked to provide relationship information, favorite items, what they want for Christmas and a few other options. From there you’ll get a preview of the message to make sure that all of your choices were correct and you can send the message. The call will be connected instantly, so if you’re nearby you can sneak over and watch the results!

Customizable options include:

• Gender
• Location
• What they do
• What they want for Christmas
• Favorite food
• Holiday of celebration
• a Nickname
• a Favorite activity

The free call is sponsored by Google Voice, a free service that provides many benefits including voicemail transcription, number forwarding and more. You can learn how to use Google Voice in our series Google Voice University where we cover all the basics like Google Voice 101 and even more advanced Google Voice tricks.

How to Send a Personalized Santa Call For Free (Google Voice) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The best part about LogMeIn is that the free version meets the needs of most home users and in my case allowed me to remotely control two computers at my parents to help my dad switch over to his new laptop. This saved me a trip home and also allowed him to get up and running on his new computer faster.

Through the year I’m connecting to someone’s computer at least every other week to help solve a problem or upgrade some software. If you are on call for your family you’ll appreciate the ability to see what’s actually on the screen instead of relying on the user to tell you the specific error message. With LogMeIn I’m able to answer my dad’s questions in half the time and since he can see what I’m doing at the same time he has learned how to handle more problems on his own from upgrading and troubleshooting to identifying malware attempting to install itself on his computer.

The best time to give this gift is when you’re at their house for the holidays, but I have walked others through the installation process over the phone in order to solve problems in a crunch. You can even use the iPhone, iPad, Android or iPod Touch to connect to your other computers.

For saving us time, sanity and keeping the computers of friends and family up and running no matter where we are we want to call out LogMeIn as one of the best gifts to give this year.

Here’s an example of how one user uses LogMeIn to help family members:

LogMeIn: The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself and Your Family is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

If you have an Apple iPad owner on your gift list this Christmas, then we have some accessories for you. At the outset, one category we won’t be including is cases, only because we also have an iPad Case Gift Guide on the way with several great choices. These iPad accessories are sure to delight your iPad aficionado.

Thanks for checking out the Notebooks.com Gift Guide 2010 series. We want you to have a great holiday season so we have pulled together a collection of gift guides that make it easier to shop for everyone you know. These gifts have been hand picked by the staff at Notebooks.com and have been deemed worthy of giving to someone you care about.

iPad Camera Connection Kit – $29.00

For iPad users who want to import digital camera photos either from an SD card or directly with a camera connected via a USB cable, the iPad Camera Connection Kit is a simple and inexpensive gift. It has two adapters that connect to the dock port on the bottom of the iPad. One will accept a standard or high capacity SD card. The other has a USB input on it. When either adapter is plugged into the iPad and the iPad recognizes that there are pictures in a format that it can import (it accepts JPG and RAW files), it will open the Photos app and offer to import them. It is so simple to use.

What Apple didn’t tell users is that the USB to Dock Adapter in the kit will also accept input from a USB keyboard, a USB headseat, a USB headset with a microphone or just a USB sound input device like a microphone. With it a user can record sound to the iPad, listen to music, or input text.

Targus Stylus – $14.95

We’ve reviewed a few different styli here at Notebooks.com as well over at our sister site Gottabemobile. But the one that we want to recommend is the Targus Stylus. We liked the Hard Candy Cases iPad Stylus, but decided to go with the Targus Stylus because of price. Sure it doesn’t have a built-in pen or look as fancy, but it is simple and has the same tip — and it costs a third of the Hard Candy Cases stylus, if you get it from Amazon or Targus. Don’t go to Best Buy unless you need it as a last minute present since they charge more than the retail price.

Here is our video review.

This is the best  choice for a simple, inexpensive stylus for your iPad fan this Christmas.

iHome iB969 Charging Station – $49.99

If we had to pick one favorite iPad accessory, besides a case, the iHome iB969 Charging Station would be in the top two. It is more than an iPad accessory; it is a gadget lovers dream for charging. The iHome iB969 Charging Station comes with two iPod/iPhone docks and a place to plug in two USB cables one of which has enough juice to power the iPad and charge it. The other can be used to charge a smaller device or something like the Kindle. So long as the device can be charged by a simple USB powered port, then it works. That means you can charge up to four devices at once.

The iHome iB969 Charging Station doesn’t take up that much room on your nightstand. It works great if you plug the iPad in at night and turn on the free app Nightstand Central which has a huge clock display, shows weather and is an alarm clock. There is a paid version for $1.99, but we don’t think it adds much more. The combo of the two will make the iHome iB969 Charging Station useful even while your iPad fanatic is asleep. Right now you can get it a little cheaper by purchasing from Sears, which has it for $41.00.

iPad Space Dock – $54.95

Another top choice in iPad accessories is the iPad Space Dock from LapWorks. This is a simple and easy to transport stand for the iPad. It is made of solid aluminum with some felt inside the groove that actually holds the iPad. It comes apart to easily throw in a bag.

My only wish was that I could get one with a little larger groove so I didn’t have to remove my case to use it. However, this stand is excellent for taking your iPad on the road and standing it up at one of three angles so you can watch videos, type, or whatever you wish. It holds the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode. When we first reviewed it, we were little too critical, only because of the price. But in retrospect, it is worth every penny.

PadDock 10 iPad Dock – $99.99

One of the most interesting iPad accessories we’ve looked at this year is the PadDock 10 for the Apple iPad from SMK Link. It is a multifunction device which will hold your iPad at eye level, making it work very much like a small monitor. It swivels a full 360 degrees so you can view the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode. The PadDock 10 holds the iPad securely with a speaker on one side and three lips that surround the iPad on the other sides. The iPad snaps into place with a dock connector at one end. With the connector you can both charge and sync the iPad and sound comes from the iPad to the built-in speakers.

Our review of the PadDock 10 shows just how useful this iPad dock can be. At $99.99 it may seem a little expensive, but for all it can do, that is not too bad. Just be warned the speakers are not the highest quality and it is made of plastic. But it is sturdy and holds the iPad nicely while we use it as an external monitor with a little app called AirDisplay, a $9.99 app in the app store.

Below is our video review of the PadDock 10:

Holiday Gift Guide: iPad Accessories is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Thanks for checking out the Notebooks.com Gift Guide 2010 series. We want you to have a great holiday season so we have pulled together a collection of gift guides that make it easier to shop for everyone you know. These gifts have been hand picked by the staff at Notebooks.com and have been deemed worthy of giving to someone you care about.

Kensington PowerBolt Duo Car Charger – $29.99

If Dad has more than one gadget that could use a charge while he’s on the road, this little PowerBolt Duo Car Charger might be just the thing. It plugs into the DC jack (cigarette lighter) of the car and supplies him with two USB ports for charging anything from an iPhone to an iPad.

While designed with Apple devices in mind, check the power needs for any other USB devices he might have and it could work with them too. The little LED indicator indicates when it is getting enough juice from the car to charge. The two ports actually have different amperages (power ratings). One of them is a 2.1 AMP port, enough power for an iPad, which requires more than a typical iOS device. The other is not powerful enough to charge an iPad but will handle all other iOS devices without any trouble. The thing we like about the PowerBolt is the size – you can see in the picture that it won’t stick way out of cigarette lighter port of the vehicle. It also comes with the USB to Apple Dock Connector cable.

USB  Hard Drive, Flash Drive or Backup Solution – Prices Vary

A great solution for Dad might be a backup hard drive or flash drive. If dad is always taking pictures, digital video or listening to digital audio, he might want a place to store them off of his computer.

We recommend a 3-2-1 backup strategy. That means that any precious files (picture, video, music, documents) are not properly backed up until there are three copies, on two different kinds of storage media with at least one offsite storage location. For offsite, go with a service like Carbonite, Dropbox, or SugarSync. These are services that let you upload files with up to a certain level for free. For example, Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage for free.

The two different storage media means back up to at least two of any of the following: an extra hard drive, DVDs or CDs, or flash media. One of those media should be a hard drive because they are cheap and convenient.

We like the Western Digital My Passport Essential drives, if you plan to go with an external USB hard drive. They are small, lightweight, inexpensive and now are compatible with the faster USB 3.0 standard. Retail on a 500GB drive is only $99.99 if you buy it direct. But we know that you can get a 1TB drive My Passport Essential SE drive that supports USB 3.0 for just $20 more at Amazon.

If you don’t think Dad needs that much storage or think he will want something much smaller, then a USB memory stick (sometimes called a thumb drive) or an SD card might be a better solution. Amazon has a ton of 16GB flash memory in both SD and USB memory stick formats for under $40. Use that a price point and then compare with your local electronics or office stores to see where good deals can be found.

Novatel Wireless Intelligent Mobile Hotspot – AKA Mifi Card – Price Depends on Carrier

Getting multiple devices on the Internet while on the go is a challenge that can be met thanks to the Novatel Wireless Mobile Hotspot card or more popularly known as a MiFi Card. Many of us here at Notebooks.com have a version of this great device. Customers from Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Virgin Mobile and now AT&T can get a version of this great little wireless Internet modem/router or similar device.

The Mifi is the size of a deck of card. It connects to the Internet through a 3G wireless data connection and can be used either as a USB modem for one computer or as a mobile hotspot for up to five devices. In our tests, it has enough bandwidth for simple Internet usage for all five devices. However, if one of those devices is being used for bandwidth hungry tasks like downloading large files or streaming video, the whole network will suffer.

Currently, the MiFi 2200 from Verizon Wireless is free with a two year commitment. Otherwise it is $269.99. That two year commitment requires a monthly outlay of at least $35 for 3GB of data. 5GB is $50 and 10GB is $80. That sounds expensive, but a single iPad data plan can be $30. Plus a computer wireless modem doubles that.

Sprint used to have the exact same device as Verizon. However, they have replaced it with the Overdrive, which is a 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot with the same basic features plus it can connect to a 4G network, if you have that in your area, which few do. It adds to the above features the ability to store up to 16GB of data on the device, which can be nice for sharing files with co-workers or family members. There device is $49.99 with a two year commitment. For a 5GB plan you will pay $59.99/month.

Virgin Mobile has the same MiFi 2200 as Verizon, however, it doesn’t require a monthly contract. The upfront cost is $149.99 and unlimited data is $40/month. 100 MB of data, which should be avoided, is only $10/month. This is the best deal if you can get Virgin Mobile in your area.

AT&T also has a Novatel modem available. It is the updated version of the MiFi 2200. It should be available by the time you read this. We will update this page with prices and data package figures once they are available.

Roku XD|S Streaming Media Player – $99.99

There are a slew of streaming media players that connect to your TV and stream digital video from the Internet. Based on our experience and research, we think the one that outclasses them all is the Roku XD|S. The reasons are cost plus content. It is the best value at $59.99, $79.99 and $99.99, depending on which box you buy. As for content, it is the only box that has both Netflix and hulu Plus as well as tons of other channels. Unlike many of the other boxes, users can add their own channels. If dad is a real geek there is no reason he won’t be able to find out how to add them.

If dad likes baseball, he will be able to subscribe to the MLB package and watch his favorite teams live through the box. Also, Roku was teasing that another major sports league would be added soon. We were hoping it would be the NBA, since the NFL is married to DirecTV and Verizon and Roku already has NBA Game Time, which is a playoff highlights channel. However, the NHL is it. So if Dad is a hockey fan, then he’ll love it.

Roku XD|S hooks up to a TV via HDMI, Component video, or the old fashioned yellow RCA cable. It also has optical audio out. It is capable of full 1080p HD streaming. And it can hook up to the Internet via either an Ethernet or Wireless 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. There is also a USB port for an external hard drive or flash drive to display videos, pictures or play music files. We will be doing a full review of the Roku XD|S soon, but our early experience says this thing is the best in class.

There are a couple of cheaper options but we say splurge for the full experience. And don’t order from Roku as they are out of stock. Amazon has them in stock however. If dad doesn’t have an available HDMI import on his TV then don’t forget the XDS Cable Value Pack from Roku for $20.

Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 – $749-949 direct or less from other retailers

If dad has been really hard-working without cramping your style too much this year, then maybe you’d like to get him a really nice ultra-portable laptop this Christmas. There is always the 13.3-inch MacBook Air we reviewed and loved, but that might be slightly out of reach. At a much smaller price point is the Lenovo IdeaPad Z360, which our editor Josh Smith is currently reviewing and has posted his early kudos.

Directly from Lenovo this 13.3-inch laptop will start out at $749 with an Intel Core i3 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and as Josh said in his first look post a keyboard with “perfect feedback spacing and feel.” Despite the glossy screen and plastic case, he seems to really like the IdeaPad Z360 so we can say that dad likely will too. Be sure to check out his video below:

Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Gifts for Dads is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Best Buy is being forced to match free shipping offers from Wal-mart and online electronics retailers, such as Amazon.com. The free shipping removes one common objection to shopping online, giving online offers a leg up when prices are similar or the same as retail locations.

So what’s excluded from Best Buy’s free shipping offer? Clicking on the Free Shipping banner’s ‘Learn More’ button reveals the following restrictions:

Offer excludes laptops, netbooks, iPads, iPods, Dynex™ TVs, video game consoles, major appliances, compact refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, grills, outdoor furniture, pergolas, fitness equipment, electric vehicles, and some other items that require scheduled delivery. Also excludes enhanced shipping options, such as Expedited or Express service.

At first glance, the list may not make a whole lot of sense. Best Buy will ship you a bulky desktop for free, but you can forget about free shipping on a 2lb netbook or an iPod Nano. On closer examination it’s clear that Best Buy is simply excluding low-margin items (laptops) and the really heavy stuff (washers and dryers). Apple also does not typically allow its products to be advertised as bargains in any way, shape or form.

Wal-mart is offering free shipping for the holidays as well. Other retailers, such as Amazon.com are offering free shipping on select items.

If you plan on doing a lot of online shopping for the holidays, we highly recommend examining the shipping costs, deadlines and delivery dates carefully before placing your order. Having gifts show up promptly is something that may be worth paying for. If you’re going to do a lot of shopping online and shipping to several locations it may be worth investing in Amazon Prime, a service that offers unlimited two-day shipping and $3.95 per item overnight shipping.

Best Buy’s Free Shipping for the Holidays Has Big Holes is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Thanks for checking out the Notebooks.com Gift Guide 2010 series. We want you to have a great holiday season so we have pulled together a collection of gift guides that make it easier to shop for everyone you know. These gifts have been hand picked by the staff at Notebooks.com and have been deemed worthy of giving to someone you care about.

GelaSkins Skins for Electronics – iPhone Skin Pictured $14.95

GelaSkins makes skins for many electronic devices, including the iPhone 4. If you can plug it into the wall and it has a chip of some kind it likely has a GelaSkin designed to cover it and offer a little protection.

The GelaSkin pictured above is designed for the iPhone 4. It not only covers the front and back of the iPhone but comes with a matching wallpaper to make it look like the skin covers the entire front. There are a lot of different designs, but if you like you can also customize one with your own image. Have the kids draw a picture on the computer or scan it and upload it for mom. Or you might want to use a photo of the family.

The best way to do it might be just to buy her a gift certificate for her, which are available in $25 increments up to $100.

solBAT II – Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger – $29.99

If mom already has an iPhone or some other device that charges via a USB cable, then this little gadget might be the perfect thing. It accepts any USB power cable and gives it a charge from the solar cells attached to a 1500ma lithium-ion battery. It also has it’s own power cable for when there is no sun to provide electricity. It comes with a windshield suction cup mounted cradle, the charger and a cable. Pick up a USB to cigarette lighter adapter and she can also plug it into her car for additional powering up options even in dark.

Amazon Kindle Wi-fi – $139

The Kindle changed the book market and now you can let it change the way your mom reads. She will love being able to carry multiple books in something size of a paperback. It is extremely simple to use and most people who read on one say the text is clear and easy on the eyes. For those with visual impairment the text can be enlarged to make it more readable. There is a version that can access the Kindle store over the Whispernet, a cellular data network dedicated to the Kindle service. But we don’t think it is necessary so long as mom has a Wi-fi network readily accessible. If she doesn’t pay the extra $50 and it becomes even easier to use. And don’t forget to load a few books on it for her and get a case to protect it.

Muzetto Laptop Bag from Waterfield Designs -$179.99 to start

We really love the bags and cases that Waterfield Designs makes. They are hand-stitched quality and high-end looking. The Muzetto is a vertical bag with lether trim and and plenty of room. The flap covers the computer and peripherals inside and the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry. They fit every thing from 10-inch netbooks up to a 15-inch laptop. But if you don’t like the one we picked out, hit the link and search through all the bags and cases to find just the right one for your mom. They have them in all sizes and usually about six different colors.

Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Digital ELPH 14.1 MP Digital Camera – $179.99

Canon makes great point and shoot cameras that are simple to use and take very good pictures. The PowerShot 1000 series brings simplicity to a new level as they are truly point and shoot. The 1400 has image stabilization, shoots in three modes (a very simple point and shoot, slightly more advanced mode with more settings, and HD video). The 4X optical zoom is pretty good for a camera of this size. The really attractive feature is the size. It is smaller than a deck of cards and comes in four colors, pink, black, silver and orange. A number of our product images are taken with the earlier version of this camera. Don’t forget an SD card and a protective camera case to go with it.

Apple MacBook Air 11.6-inch – $1399

If mom has been espeically good this year, then she deserves something truly luxurious like the Apple MacBook Air. There are a few different models, but we recommend the faster processor (Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz), 4 GB of RAM and 128GB SSD. The MacBook Air is extremely thin at less than an inch at the thickest point and only .11 inches at the front edge. The beautiful 1366×768 display is excellent. It has Bluetooth and Wi-fi and pretty good battery life, at 5 hours. It does come with a few compromises like no optical drive and connecting to an external display or proejctor will require a $29 adapter. But we think mom will really appreciate you and this gift will certainly put you at the top of her favorite child list, which can’t hurt when the holiday baked goods come out of the oven.

Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Gifts for Moms is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.