Gift tech on Christmas Day (Second of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines - Sleigh bells are ringing as e-readers’ prices are dropping.

With so many brands and models of e-readers in the market today a price war is imminent. It’s a war that will be good for consumers as e-reader makers approach the $99 sweet spot. A survey by eForrester Research found that nearly 65 percent of adult Americans online would immediately buy an e-reader if it’s priced under $100.

Last August, Amazon unveiled a thinner, lighter and smaller Wi-Fi-enabled Kindle for $139. Bookstore mammoth Barnes & Noble also dropped the price of its 3G Nook e-reader to $199 or $60 cheaper than its debut price. The company also has a Wi-Fi version that costs $149.

A true bargain shopper, however, might want to consider less known brands like the $99 Ocean Reader from Copia. Borders also sells the Aluratek Libre reader for $99.99, which used to sell for $119.99. At these friendly prices e-readers will be great Christmas sock fillers and are also good for the brains, what with the plethora of e-books that can be crammed into one device.

You want color you say like that on iPad? Barnes & Noble is quick to answer the demand for color e-readers by introducing a color Nook for $249. But remember, monochromatic e-readers are not only better for the eyes, they are also better for the wallet as color LCDs make e-readers costlier and they consume more power.

Two tablets after meal

But the biggest craze in the geekdom this season hovers around tablet computers. Of course, the runaway leader here is still the Apple iPad, but new entrants like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, HP Slate 500 and Archos 101 give Christmas shoppers more choices.

Samsung Punch

Dubbed by Table PC Review as the “first best Android tablet,” the Samsung Galaxy Tab is more powerful and portable, and has features not found on the iPad, like multi-tasking, Flash support, and video conferencing.

With a seven-inch screen and weighing just 384 grams, it’s smaller and lighter than the 10-inch, 700-gram iPad. The Tab runs Android 2.2 and has a microSDHC memory card slot for adding more storage. Too bad it got no USB slots. But it has a slot for a SIM card because it’s really also a phone, albeit a pretty large one that supports all sorts of connectivity, including two-view cameras.

Those who prefer a Windows 7 tablet might want to consider the HP Slate 500 at $799. It has an 8.9-inch capacitive screen and is powered by an Intel Atom Z540 processor. It has a 2GB of RAM and 64GB of solid state storage, a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator card, and features a three-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA front camera for video calls.

Less known brand Archos 101 sells for only $300. It’s a 10.1-inch Android tablet with 1024 x 600 capacitive touch-screen display with 3D graphics acceleration. Powered by a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, the Archos 101 has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 built-in, VGA camera and built-in microphone and speakers, mini HDMI and USB ports, and supports Flash-based Web content. No doubt it’s an underdog in the tablet computing space but it’s really worth a second look once people get over their branding obsessions.

Just shoot me

New technologies coming to digital SLRs are expected to drive holiday sales for key players like Kodak, Canon, Samsung, and Sony, among others.

Canon’s compact cameras like the digital Elf and the G11 and those with Full HD video capabilities are the ones the company believes will move fast during the gifting season. Sony’s NEX compact interchangeable-lens camera will be popular, too. 

Samsung’s NX10 is touted to be the first to have a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera that requires less space, resulting in the NX10’s slim and compact size. Unlike conventional DSLRs, the NX10 has replaced the mirror system with a highly sensitive, 14.6-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor. And like conventional DSLRs, the NX10’s interchangeable lens system delivers the flexibility and versatility similar to a professional-grade digital camera.

If these are not enough, there is the new Samsung NX100, also a mirrorless camera equipped with the world’s first i-Function lens. It shares the same technologies found in the NX10 such as the APS-C size sensor for quality images and a three-inch AMOLED screen for easy and clear viewing. The NX100’s i-Function lens allows users to control their camera through the lens for the first time.

For point-and-click shooters, Samsung expanded its family of 2View digital cameras with the new ST600 and ST100 models. The 14.2-megapixel models feature Samsung’s revolutionary dual LCD technology. The 1.8-inch front screen can now be activated by a simple tap. Both models come equipped with Schneider Kreuznach lenses, which are supported by optical and digital image stabilization for blur-free photos. Both models are priced at P19,990 each.

Two for the road

What do you want to drive this Christmas: a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? By drive we mean the computer that you’d pick to take you to higher levels of computing which is what the new Asus Lamborghini VX6 and the Acer Ferrari One promise users.

Asus, in partnership with supercar maker Automobili Lamborghini, created the new Asus Lamborghini VX6 that sports a 12-inch portable PC with multimedia features. It uses the dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor, NVIDIA ION engine and NVIDIA Optimus technology, Bang & Olufsen ICE power technology for deep and rich bass audio performance, USB 3.0 technology, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi 802. Completing the package is the WX-Lamborghini wireless mouse.

Also worthy to be taken everywhere is the Acer Ferrari One. With its distinctive red paint job and an 11.6-inch screen, this computer has an AMD Athlon X2 dual-core processor L310 and the ATIRAdeon HD 3200 graphics card along with a 4GB DDR2 667MHz system memory and 160GB hard drive under its hood. It runs on Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium.

Hello, Santa

Many are expected to want to have their first or another smartphone this Christmas. The question is, which of the many models would Santa choose?

Again, Apple’s iPhone is a given favorite, but Android smartphones are also much desired. Take the HTC Desire Z. This new model features a super responsive touch screen that lets you surf the Web with a mere touch or a dedicated keyboard for quickly shooting off texts or e-mails. The HTC Desire Z has a 3.7-inch touch screen and a pop-up keyboard with keys that are nicely spaced and raised for fast comfortable typing.

A growing favorite among consumers, too, is the new LG Optimus One P500, a smartphone built around Android 2.2, Google’s latest mobile operating system. Measuring 113.5 x 59 x 13.3 mm and weighing 129 grams, the LG Optimus One is more compact than the Apple iPhone and other glitzy touch-screen handsets, and will fit easily into your pocket. One of the great things about the LG Optimus One is its price. With a suggested retail price of P12,990, it is one of the most affordable Android phones in the market today, without compromising quality or functionality.

For those who don’t want too many technical details and would rather go for practical features, the new Samsung Punch could be the phone for them. It’s a dual-SIM phone that allows both SIM cards to be active at the same time. Choosing which of the two SIM cards to use is accomplished with a flick of a button.

The Samsung Punch comes in a sleek QWERTY style for easier typing of messages. For a better navigation experience, it also has an optical trackpad. Other features include a 1.3-megapixel camera, quick links to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Samsung Punch is available for only P5199 (SRP).

You got 20 more days to get yourself or your loved ones any of these greatly coveted tech gifts. The pre-classical monk Fr. Baltasar Gracian, who preached to give only simple gifts would not approve, but those who would receive these items would surely love and appreciate them.