Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gift Ideas For 2010's Apple Addicts

Before Black Friday MTV Multiplayer sorts through the best tech goodies and games.
By Russ Frushtick


iPod Nano
Photo: Apple/ MTV News

With the start of the holiday shopping season looming, MTV's Multiplayer blog is helping you sort through the loads of goodies lining shelves this year. On Wednesday, we focused on games to watch out for this holiday, and here we're focusing on what to get the Apple people in your life.

You know Apple people; they're the ones who complain about having to use a Windows computer at work and who wear the latest iPod on their front lapel like it's a pocket square. Thankfully, there are plenty of gifts this holiday season for the Mac-minded, with a wide range in price points, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding them the perfect thing to gloat about.

The Stocking Stuffers

If you're not looking to break the bank, there's a new version of the iPod Shuffle which comes with 2GB of storage space and is about the size of a postage stamp. At $49, it makes for a good Secret Santa option and is a great gift for runners, since it's able to clip on to any piece of clothing.

Of course, another cheap alternative, if you're concerned that an iPod might be too personal, is just to get an iTunes gift card. They come in a variety of denominations and Apple sells holiday-themed cards in their stores. This is a solid option if you know someone already has an iPhone or an iPod Touch, since they can use it for apps, games, music or movies.

The Mid-Range

If you're comfortable spending a little more dough (or you're not the one paying), there's also a new version of the iPod Nano which starts at $150 for an 8GB model, though the 16GB for $180 is the smarter buy. The new Nano uses the same touch screen technology found on the iPhone, so you can swipe through your songs, but it's only slightly larger than the new Shuffle, which makes it perfect for morning commutes. It too has a clip, allowing you to stick it anywhere.

And then there's the top-of-the-line iPod, the new iPod Touch. It has the same functionality as the iPhone 4, but without the service plan. It can still handle video chat, though, and has a higher resolution screen than past models. The new iPod Touch starts at $229 for the 8GB model and can act as a fallback computer, presuming you have WiFi. Great for gamers, too, since it'll run all the games on the App Store swimmingly.

The High End

You've likely heard all about the iPad (starting at $499), and if you're buying something for a big anniversary (or you're feeling really guilty), it's sure to get the response you're looking for. It's also great for people that travel, as the battery life can get you from New York to L.A. and back again on a single charge.

And then there's the MacBook Air, which starts at $999 for the 11 inch model. Razor thin at the edge and coming in at just over 2 pounds, the Air is small enough to fit in a messenger bag and make you forget it's even in there. It's as powerful as the standard MacBooks from just a year ago, and so long as you're not doing intensive video or photo editing, it can handle day-to-day work like a pro. An added bonus: It's so small, you don't need to take it out of your bag at the airport. Yep, the TSA gave it a pass. Unfortunately, that pass doesn't apply to you and your baggy pants.

Tune in to Multiplayer.MTV.com on Friday, as we'll be looking at the latest gaming headsets and gear to help make your winter break an unproductive one!

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652599/20101118/story.jhtml

Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner

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