Posted on: Tuesday, April 26, 2005
HELP DESK
iPod is the gift to give a graduate
By Kim Komando
If you have young folks about to graduate, give a high-tech gift that's bound to please. You'll look hip in the process.
If your graduate doesn't own a digital music player, that's a good place to start. The Apple iPod by far is the biggest seller and comes in many models.
The $99 iPod Shuffle is the least expensive. It holds about 120 songs. The $199 iPod Mini has a 4-gigabyte drive that holds 1,000 songs. The 20GB iPod sells for $299 and holds 5,000 songs. And the 30GB iPod Photo, which plays music and displays color photos, costs $349 and holds 7,500 songs. The 60GB model costs $449 and holds 15,000 songs.
Other companies offer products similar to the iPod, but most kids want the status of owning an iPod. Creative's Zen Micro starts at $199 for a 4GB model. The Zen Touch starts at $249 for a 20GB model. IRiver is another popular brand. Its H10 5GB model sells for $279. A 20GB H320 model sells for $299.
MP3 players do more than just play music. Your graduate can download books. For students furthering their education, it doubles as a study aid. Many professors post recordings of their lectures online for download.
For those with bigger budgets, a laptop would make a great gift. Many universities require that students have a laptop. Some schools provide them; others set minimum system requirements that you can find on their Web sites.
A Windows-based system should have at least 512 megabytes of memory, a 60GB hard drive, integrated 802.11g wireless networking and a DVD burner. The processor should be a Pentium M or Pentium 4-M. Budget at least $1,000 unless you want a higher-end machine.
For Macintosh, there are three iBook G4 models that range in price from $1,000 to $1,500. There is not much customization available.
To save money, check with the school. School stores often offer discounts on hardware as well as software.
For example, Microsoft Office for students is $149, while the standard retail version is $399. The academic version is a full product. Proof of enrollment may be required for product activation.
If your graduate is really into music and videos, consider a media hub. These gadgets stream media files from a computer to a home entertainment system. Some only play music, but others also handle movies and pictures. There are limits on what file formats they'll play. Prices start around $100, and be sure to buy one with integrated wireless, or your graduate may need to buy an adapter. The computer also needs a wireless adapter.
Apple's AirPort Express wireless hub works for both PCs and Macs. It sells for $129 but only streams music. At $170, D-Link's Media Lounge moves video, music and pictures. Linksys sells its Wireless-B Media Adapter for about $160. It handles music and pictures, but not video.
After years of studying, wouldn't your graduate like to play some games? Sony's PlayStation Portable fits the bill but also handles music, movies and photos. Built-in wireless networking allows competition with players who are within 15 feet. But it's pricey at $250. And the good games retail for $40 to $50 each. At about half the price, Nintendo's DS is a worthy alternative. It has two screens and built-in wireless capabilities. But as with the iPod, your grad might prefer the hot brand. That's the PSP.
