Mother’s day is on May 9, less than a month away, so it is time to start getting serious about mother’s day gifts. You might be thinking – some shampoo, maybe some flowers, a box of chocolates – and that’s great. But it might also be great to buy a mother’s day gift which is unexpected, surprising and will last a long time. Something like a netbook, a laptop or other small PC.
Don’t think mom will go for it? Think again. Even the most technophobic moms can find a use for small computer technology, if only because it allows her to replace an old, obtrusive Dell with a new nettop which takes up a fourth of the space but performs the same functions. And that’s not the only mom who might appreciate a bit of tech in her life. This buying guide to mother’s day tech lists suggestions for almost every kind of mom under the sun.
The On-The-Go Mom
Do you know a mom who is constantly hoping from one coffee shop to the next, going to and leading PTO meetings, and generally living life as a busy-body? Then the Eee PC 1001P just might be the perfect mother’s day gift. A basic, durable and easy to use netbook, the Eee PC 1001P is generally under $300 dollars but provides enough battery life for all-day use.
The Traditional Mom
Traditional stay-at-home moms will love the Apple iPad. It may seem odd to recommend a new gadget for such an audience, but consider this. The iPad has amazing recipe apps and the touchscreen makes it perfect for kitchen use. Its small size and great battery life also makes it small enough to watch videos when waiting for the kids to get out of school. And the easy to use web browsing interface will allow mom to check her favorite websites and her email without having to sit down and boot up a computer.
The Apple iPad can be purchased from the Apple Store for as little as $499.00
The Businessmom
Some moms take charge of the situation. They work hard and travel the country to bring home the bacon. These moms need a laptop which is as durable and rugged but still has the performance and battery life she needs on the road. The T410, perhaps the most iconic business laptop in the world, fits this bill. Mom will love the professional keyboard and features like the spill-resistant surface and reinforced chassis. Just make sure that businessmom’s laptop isn’t already supply by her work.
The Mainstream Mom
Many moms are simply mainstream tech users. They don’t hate technology, but they don’t love it, either. They want a laptop which is functional, but also one which provides some entertainment value. For these moms the Lenovo Y550 is prefect. This 15 inch mainstream laptop has a powerful processor and a 15.6 inch screen. It is small enough for occasional mobile use, but large enough to be used comfortably for long periods of time. It also as great audio and a good display, making it perfect for watching video while the kids (or the husband) hogs the TV.
The Lenovo Y550 can be found for $709.00 at the Lenovo store, but I encourage springing for the $779.00 Ideapad Y550 with discrete graphics.
The Techno-Paranoid Mom
Does mom fear identify theft and malware? Is her computer awkwardly wedged near her cable or DSL modem because she doesn’t want to use Wi-Fi? Then powerline networking might be for her. Powerline networking uses existing power lines in her home to transmit a signal between rooms. It is 100% wired and secure, which means mom doesn’t have to worry about identity thieves. I recommend the Belkin power-line adapters – they’re the ones I use in my own home.
The “I check email once a day” Mom
If mom doesn’t really care about technology she probably has some massive old Dell sitting on or under a desk, wasting her space and energy. Such a mom is a prime candidate for a nettop. Since her computer is probably old, the nettop’s performance will be close to or even better than her existing computer, and mom will appreciate having space freed up for other things. If she already has a decent monitor, the I recommend the Acer AspireRevo. If she is using a clunky old CRT, buy an all-in-one nettop like the MSI Wind Top.
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The Hip and Cool Mom
Not all moms are unconcerned with technology. Some want the best tech they can get their hands on with the latest features and cool aesthetics. If this describes a mom you know, you’ll probably want to look at the ASUS UL30A. This ultraportable is one of the best thin laptops on the market today. Its ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processors allows the UL30 to achieve around eight hours of battery life while also providing excellent performance. It is less than an inch thick, has a 13.3 inch screen, and weights about 3.5 pounds.
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