My latest column, published in The Portsmouth Herald on Thanksgiving Day...
We're moving into that most special time of the year, so I thought I should devote this column to some technology gift ideas, like I have done in years past. When I looked back over the last several years of writing this column, I had to laugh. Not much has changed, just the particulars.
Game consoles, smartphones, portable computers; these are still the hot items this holiday season, just in their latest form. You've probably already noticed the increase in advertising for both the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PS3. Both are excellent game consoles and appeal to just about any gamer out there. Serious gamers have both, and probably a Nintendo Wii as well. These remain the mainstays of the gaming market, and you won't go wrong giving one of these as a gift. The Xbox 360 and PS3 are probably the most similar, while the Wii adds a more interactive component. If you don't have one of the systems yet, your best bet is to go a retail store and try them out to get a sense of which is best for your intended recipient. They each have their strengths.
In the smartphone world, where the iPhone has been the major focus since its release, the new Droid phones, based on Google's Android operating system, are giving the iPhone its first serious competition. It's far too soon to know if the Droid will make a dent against the iPhone, but it's definitely getting attention and seems to be off to a strong start. As with any new technology, time will be the determining factor as real world experience takes hold and we see what support the new phone will get among software developers who make applications that make these devices shine. If you have an early adopter on your gift list, the Droid will probably make them very happy.
If you're looking for an inexpensive portable computer, check out the variety of netbooks on the market. If you're not familiar with netbooks, think of them as ultralight notebooks that are a great option for those who need to get online and use the Internet. In their original form, netbooks were somewhat limited, but like all technology, they have come a long way in short time and now offer reasonable power. If the primary use for a netbook is e-mail, Web surfing and some basic tasks like word processing, a netbook, many at less than $300, offers an attractive option.
While the three items mentioned above all carry price tags in the hundreds of dollars, there are ample technology gifts that are less expensive as well. Whether it's a digital photo frame, digital camera, MP3 player or USB key, you have more options this year than ever. Apple recently updated the iPod Nano line to include a video camera and FM radio tuner and lowered the price slightly. Have fun shopping!
You may also use this time to give your business a holiday gift. Many businesses are able to take advantage of the holidays to enjoy a slightly slower pace of business, which provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on your information technology infrastructure and what you may want to do in the coming year to give your business an edge.
Perhaps most importantly, there are some very strict data privacy laws coming on the books in 2010 and now is an excellent time to review your information security practices and ensure you will be in compliance with these laws and not accidentally expose your business to any legal issues related to this. Technologies exist to make you compliant and these technologies are not as expensive as they once were, nor are they are complicated to use as you may fear. Information security will continue to grow in importance as more and more business is done electronically, and now is the best time to get in front of this and present a proactive presence to your clients.
The closing of one year and beginning of another is also an excellent time to review your business continuity plans and be certain you have clear plans to deal with anything unexpected. I've written a lot in the past about this, so if this interests you, search the archives of Seacoastonline.com for my past column about backup and disaster recovery. You'll find there is a lot to consider when evaluating your disaster recovery and business continuity plans. I always recommend you review this annually, if not more frequently. I may sound like a broken record, but better to have a plan and not need it than need a plan and not have it.
