It is November, and aside from some bad weather, a nationwide exercise in democracy, and George selling Star Wars off to Mickey Mouse Inc., it’s already starting to feel like Christmas! Given our thoroughly materialistic, self-centered consumerist culture, the first thing on your advertising-addled mind would be gifts: what gifts you’ll get from others, and what gifts you’ll give yourself.
I’m sure you’ll be running into a half a million posts pleading for you to buy certain gadgets for the Holidays, either to appease your spoiled child with, or as a pat on the back to yourself for how hard you’ve worked (read: brown-nosed your boss) this year. Well, I’ve decided to buck the trend and warn you about a few gadgets that do not deserve your hard-earned debt money.
This shot list will hopefully steer you to the right direction in spending your limited Christmas budget in a most efficient way, preventing you from getting a title loan on your car or selling a kidney for something you’ll regret later. Save your car/internal organs for something more worthwhile.
Microsoft Surface (Windows RT)
Though this isn’t by any means Microsoft’s first attempt at tablet technology, this is definitely a serious attempt at wrestling away some market share from Apple IOS and Android-based tablet devices. Microsoft’s dubstep-infused ad convinced me enough to be excited for the product’s arrival, but when it did make an appearance in the hands of users, it didn’t quite deliver on the expectations.
I chose to feature Chris Pirillo’s review of it since it includes verdicts from other tech review sites, and from what I’ve seen and experienced, it’s really a device that tries hard to be both a notebook and a tablet, and not doing definitively well on either.
Wait for a better version to come out (its upcoming bigger brother is purported to have a more fully-featured and powerful Windows 8 experience). For Christmas, skip on this version.
Razer Hydra
Razer makes some fine hardware for PCs and consoles (I wish they’d actually make reinforced PC chassis, because I actually like their aesthetics), and they venture towards some radical concepts now and then. The Hydra uses magnetic motion sensors to to supposedly create a more natural and intuitive control paradigm for games and other computer applications that may utilize this kind of technology... but as of now, there’s very little support for it in today’s games (if you like playing PORTAL 2 and six other games, go ahead), you have to basically learn a new way to control stuff (not a bad thing thing entirely), and you’ll probably need a good back rub if you play with these for too long, as holding the two controllers up is part of the gaming experience.
Wait for more games, and possibly a better version of this piece of hardware. Personally, I’d rather they create a more high-tech version of the Nintendo Power Glove, and I’m talking precision finger controls, not slapping the controller onto someone’s wrist.
Oh, and I noticed some retailers that are starting to heavily discount their Hydra stocks. This is yet another indicator that nobody wants these.
Google Glass
I’m a big fan of Google, but even I’m a little skeptical about their Glass Project. It’s not so much as the technology is untenable, nor is the hardware faulty or dinky-looking... it’s just that I’m the kind of person who isn’t about broadcasting her entire life to the world (read: advertisers who want you to buy their sh_t).
flickr.com/people/loiclemeur
Unless you actually attended this year’s Google I/O event, you can’t really preorder these. Oh, they’re $1500, in case you’re wondering. The commercial version for regular customers’ use will be more affordable, hopefully.
iPhone 5
Parody video aside, it’s not a good idea to purchase the latest iPhone as of yet. They’re not about to give discounts on their latest model, after all. Also, if you can do without the longer screen and the small, incremental updates, the iPhone 4S is being offered at significantly lower prices. You still get all the IOS goodness at a much lesser price.
Besides, people can’t always tell the 4S from the 5 until they put them next to each other. As for me, I’m sticking with my simple and reliable phone until a truly revolutionary device comes along.
About the Author
Stacey Thompson is a professional writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and a lover of weird little animals. She is based in San Diego, California, is currently conspiring with her gal-pals in putting together their group blog, Word Baristas.
Originally posted at Popgive.com.![]()
