Today is called Black Friday. It got its name because of the sudden rush, the onslaught of holiday shoppers. That influx of cash brings many companies “into the black,” meaning that for the first time of the year, the owners make money.
Black Friday has become such an event that this year some merchants (Walmart, Target) opened up a day early.
Black Friday Eve, anyone?
Some merchants push Black Friday out throughout the entire weekend. That’s nuts.
Here at Wambooli, this blog post comes out on Black Friday. So in the spirit of the day and to help support this website, I’m offering some shopping suggestions for the 2012 Holiday Season. Here you go:
Eye-Fi Secure Digital CardMedia storage keeps dropping in price, so what crazy bastard wants to pay three times as much for a memory card in a digital camera? Why this crazy bastard does! The Eye-Fi series of SD cards do everything a regular SD card does, which is to store pictures on your mobile devices, specifically a digital camera. The extra thing that an Eye-Fi card does is to employ Wi-Fi, or wireless network access. That means that the old, tired, 20th Century method of removing a media card from a mobile gizmo and then shoving into your computer is as long-dead as the old Sneaker Net. Now you just fire up the Wi-Fi networking in the Eye-Fi card, and you can access digital pictures and other media directly from your PC using that wireless connection. Zap all the old pictures, and you keep the Eye-Fi card in the device to use it up again. Amazing. |
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Seagate 3TB External Hard driveEven more important than a Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time is the Seagate Backup Plus 3 TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive. That’s a lot of words! I highly recommend getting an external hard drive to use for your PC’s backup. What makes that backup valuable, of course, is the backup program. The backup program that comes with Windows sucks. As an example (because I tell me kids never to say something “sucks” without explaining why), when Windows Backup encounters a full backup drive it simply stops working. With Seagate’s backup software, the backups are organized and older backups are purged in favor of fresh material. That’s enough to sell me, and I’ve been using Seagate backup software on a Seagate external hard drive for years. It works. |
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USB 3.0 PCI CardThe future is USB 3.0. It’s most likely a hardware interface standard your PC doesn’t have. But O how your PC wants that standard. Especially if you’re going to be adding fancy new external hardware, such as that Seagate 3TB backup drive (see above). Not only that, but more and more gizmos in the future will be taking advantage of USB 3.0 speeds. I’m not trying to freak you out: Your PC today can still plug into and use USB 3.0 devices. The USB 3.0 port accommodates older USB cables. What you’re missing is the USB 3.0 speed. Therefore I highly recommend expanding your PC’s universe by getting a USB 3.0 card, using the USB 3.0 cable, and attaching USB 3.0 gizmos. The speed is worth more than your neighborhood bragging rights. |
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Das Ist Das KeyboardI am a typing snob. Those cheap-ass, spongey keyboards that come with every computer? They’re crap. Trash! I can’t type on them. I get all cranky, which you can probably tell from the vulgar nature of this paragraph. When you type for a living, or you just want to experience utter joy when using a computer, do yourself a favor and fork over the bucks for this marvelous keyboard. I have three. The first one didn’t have keycap labels, which I thought was clever and ideal for a touch-typist. But with computers, you need to look down and see what Ctrl+R looks like, so I replaced my original Das Keyboard with a newer model. Then I bought a third for use on my Macintosh. I love ’em! Typing is actually fun, especially when compared with using those silly magneto-membrane keyboards that come with most PCs. Sure, you may more, but your fingers will thank you! |
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Razer HeadphonesThis is the gaming headset I prefer to use. It’s wonderful. Trust me, I’ve been through a lot of headsets. They fall on the floor and the cheap-o plastic breaks. Or the wires snap. Or the damn cord is too short. The Razer Headphones are very well-built. They have heavy-duty wires connecting the ear cans with the head strap thing. The wire is cloth-covered and is long enough that you can actually turn your head or lean back while you’re wearing the headphones. This may not seem like an issue, but my gaming PC only has the audio inputs on the back of the console. So having a long cord is a bonus. The sound is good, though not surround sound like some higher-end headsets. I’m just pleased that this headset has lasted me as long as it has. |
One item I’d like to list, but just can’t yet find, is a decent set of head phones for a cell phone. What I desire is earbuds with a microphone, but built so well that they don’t break before the month is out.
The last set I had, which I found in an AT&T Wireless store, seemed to be really robust. Specifically, the connector was well-built and didn’t break. But eventually the mic cut out and people couldn’t hear me any more. I’d be willing to pay more for lightweight headset that I could keep longer than a month. Until I find it, my quest continues.
