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Gadling Gift Guide: Tech for Travel
Travel has certainly changed in the last decade and most of us would probably agree that those changes haven't always been for the best. Fortunately, technology has been one of the bright spots over the past few years however, and we now have a plethora of options for entertainment, staying connected, and getting work done while on the go. Here are a few great gift ideas for the techie traveler on your list this holiday season.Laptops
More and more of us are traveling with computers these days, even if we don't always need them to do work. A laptop keeps us connected while on the go, allows to play games, watch movies, upload photos, and so much more. With that in mind, here are three great options for travel.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1
This powerful and rugged laptop is perfect for adventure travelers heading to remote destinations. Built on a carbon fiber frame and packing a water resistant keyboard, the X1 is designed to take a beating and still keep working. It also happens to be one of the thinnest ThinkPad's ever built and weighs in at just 3.7 pounds, which is amazingly light for a ruggedized laptop. The battery lasts a solid 5.5 hours and can be recharged to 80% of its power in just 30 minutes. ($1467)
Samsung Series 9
If you're looking for something a bit more stylish than the ThinkPad X1, without compromising durability, then look no further than the Series 9 from Samsung. It's Duralumin case is built from the same materials as modern aircraft, which makes it strong, yet light and flexible. This ultra-thin notebook is just .6 inches thick and weighs in at a mere 2.9 pounds, which makes it a lightweight and powerful travel companion for those extended trips abroad. The 7 hour battery life will be appreciated on long flights as well. ($1550)
Asus Zenbook UX21
One of the first of a new line of laptops dubbed "ultrabooks," the Zenbook UX21 from Asus is a great option for individuals who like to travel light. This diminutive notebook weighs just 2.4 pounds and is razor thin, allowing it to slip inside your carry-on with ease. The Zenbook offers 5 hours of battery life, features a 128GB solid state drive, and premium sound for listening to music and movies while on the go. It also packs a pleasant price tag, with Amazon offering it up for just $966.
Logitech Ultimate Ears 600vi headset
MP3 players have made possible to take our entire collection of music with us when we travel, but you'll need a great pair of headphones to get the best sound possible. We were suitably impressed with the Ultimate Ears 600vi ear buds when we reviewed them a few weeks back, awarding them high marks for both comfort and sound quality. The integrated microphone, volume, and track controls work great as well, and the included hard carrying is more than appreciated when throwing them in your pack before you go. ($95)
Travelers looking for a more traditional set of headphones that are both super-comfortable and noise isolating, will want to investigate the Bose QuietComfort 15. While pricier than the Ultimate Ears, they also set the standard for sound quality on a mobile device. ($300)
Want to share your music with friends? Then check-out the iHome iHM79 portable speakers. They feature rechargeable batteries and great sound, in a tiny package. ($42)
Amazon Kindle E-Reader
Sure, the Amazon Fire is the new hotness (pun intended!), but it is tough to beat the original Kindle, especially at it's new $79 price point. The device's e-ink display is perfect for reading in nearly all conditions and the device has outstanding battery life that is measured in days, not hours. The Kindle has done for books what MP3 players did for music – allow us to bring our entire library with us when we go, and it is still a great gift for the tech obsessed traveler on your list. ($79)
Nikon 1 V1 Camera
Digital cameras have revolutionized the way we capture photos and video from our travels, and Nikon has one of the best new options for travelers this year. The Nikon 1 is the company's first foray into the micro 4/3 category, which offers up a compact and lightweight body, as well as a line of interchangeable lenses. Smaller than a DSLR, but more powerful than a point and shoot, the Nikon 1 takes amazing photos and video, without taking up too much room in your bag. ($599)
For those looking for simpler and more affordable option, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 is tough to beat. It is a compact point and shoot camera with great image quality, fast focus, and outstanding battery life. ($120)
iPhone 4S
While the iPhone 4S is rightfully getting lots of attention for its new digital assistant, Siri, and it's outstanding camera, that isn't why we're putting it on our holiday list. The newest version of Apple's iconic device is also a World Phone, which means you can now use it in over 200 countries. That alone makes it easy to recommend for travelers looking to stay connected while visiting foreign lands and previous iPhone users will rejoice that they will no longer need a separate phone when traveling abroad. ($200)
Outlets To Go Powerstrip
Keeping our gadgets powered and charged while traveling can be a real challenge, especially in hotel rooms, which seem to always lack convenient places to plug-in. A simple travel powerstrip, like the Outlets To Go from Monster, can help solve that problem. The tiny device packs three AC outlets and an integrated USB port, which is fantastic for keeping your phone, iPod, or other small electronics charged. ($12)
International travelers may want to pair the powerstrip with the Kensington All-in-One Plug Adapter as well. I take one with me whenever I leave the country, and have found it useful on many occasions. ($15)
Roku 2 HD
While not specifically a gift for travelers, who doesn't enjoy returning home from a long vacation and curling up on their own couch? The Roku 2 HD streams all kinds of Internet content to any TV, including Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, YouTube, and so much more. It is also a great way to share photos from your latest adventure with friends and family, on your big-screen, high defnition television. Best of all, it costs just $70, which isn't much for a tiny wireless device that offers so much entertainment. ($70)
Sure, the Amazon Fire is the new hotness (pun intended!), but it is tough to beat the original Kindle, especially at it's new $79 price point. The device's e-ink display is perfect for reading in nearly all conditions and the device has outstanding battery life that is measured in days, not hours. The Kindle has done for books what MP3 players did for music – allow us to bring our entire library with us when we go, and it is still a great gift for the tech obsessed traveler on your list. ($79)
Nikon 1 V1 CameraDigital cameras have revolutionized the way we capture photos and video from our travels, and Nikon has one of the best new options for travelers this year. The Nikon 1 is the company's first foray into the micro 4/3 category, which offers up a compact and lightweight body, as well as a line of interchangeable lenses. Smaller than a DSLR, but more powerful than a point and shoot, the Nikon 1 takes amazing photos and video, without taking up too much room in your bag. ($599)
For those looking for simpler and more affordable option, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 is tough to beat. It is a compact point and shoot camera with great image quality, fast focus, and outstanding battery life. ($120)
iPhone 4S
While the iPhone 4S is rightfully getting lots of attention for its new digital assistant, Siri, and it's outstanding camera, that isn't why we're putting it on our holiday list. The newest version of Apple's iconic device is also a World Phone, which means you can now use it in over 200 countries. That alone makes it easy to recommend for travelers looking to stay connected while visiting foreign lands and previous iPhone users will rejoice that they will no longer need a separate phone when traveling abroad. ($200)
Outlets To Go Powerstrip
Keeping our gadgets powered and charged while traveling can be a real challenge, especially in hotel rooms, which seem to always lack convenient places to plug-in. A simple travel powerstrip, like the Outlets To Go from Monster, can help solve that problem. The tiny device packs three AC outlets and an integrated USB port, which is fantastic for keeping your phone, iPod, or other small electronics charged. ($12)
International travelers may want to pair the powerstrip with the Kensington All-in-One Plug Adapter as well. I take one with me whenever I leave the country, and have found it useful on many occasions. ($15)
Roku 2 HD
While not specifically a gift for travelers, who doesn't enjoy returning home from a long vacation and curling up on their own couch? The Roku 2 HD streams all kinds of Internet content to any TV, including Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, YouTube, and so much more. It is also a great way to share photos from your latest adventure with friends and family, on your big-screen, high defnition television. Best of all, it costs just $70, which isn't much for a tiny wireless device that offers so much entertainment. ($70)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jessica Marati Dec 8th 2011 10:21AM
Great! I'd add the iPod Touch, which has been an awesome travel companion over the past year. It's also cheaper than the iPhone (which is super pricy sans a contract) which means it's also slightly less "losable".
Kraig Dec 8th 2011 10:34AM
Jessica: I love the Touch (and the iPad!) as well, but let them off the list mostly because they've been around awhile and people are more familiar with them. I tried to offer a few new alternatives, and while the iPhone is certainly no big revelation, the fact that it is now a true World Phone is something to be noted.
I'm a gadget guy as well, so if I recommended everything I love, the list would go on forever! :)
Craig Dec 8th 2011 12:58PM
No love for the Macbook Air, the tiniest and lightest (and therefore most travel-friendly for one-bag-ers) of all?
Kraig Dec 8th 2011 1:28PM
Craig: I absolutely love my MacBook Air. It is a wonderful machine. But like the iPod Touch, it has been around for awhile and has been making these lists for a couple of years. I tried to spotlight some options that were a bit newer, and the Samsung Series 9 and Asus Zenbook are finally bringing MacBook Air performance and size to the Windows world.
Traveler's Muse Dec 8th 2011 9:28PM
When I started traveling, I noticed many people melded to their work, which is great for their employer but not so healthy for the employee. I agree that travel has not changed for the best but there is a fantastic assortment of technology out there. I figured out quickly enough that my health both mental and physical was an important part of my overall travel experience. As my travel increased, I began looking to technology to help aid me on this course of decompression. My Kindle is one of my best friends as I love to read and it gives me a great distraction combined with some music streaming from one of my Dish Network music channels and my Sling Adapter. I notice many people enjoying their technology and it seems to calm them within all the chaos. I talked to a guy who had a ThinkPad and he raved about its weight and carbon fiber frame. I showed him my iPad2, which also can stream movies and programming from my Dish package at home with a free application called Dish Remote Access. He was just as fascinated with my technology as I was with his especially with the fact that the Sling is being offered free to new and existing customers through a rebate. He looked at me a little funny for a minute then laughed. He said he had Dish and had no idea, he travels so much that he does not have time to explore all the options that he would like. I told him I travel a lot as well through my work for Dish Network so I completely understand. I then noticed that he also had a pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones, which I simply could not live without. I need the full all around distraction from the stress and chaos especially during the Holidays. We ended up on the same plane and had a very pleasant conversation during the rest of our journey. It is amazing what technology can do for a gal both in utilizing its abilities and in meeting a great guy in an airport.
karen roore Dec 9th 2011 4:48AM
i planning to fly to washinton D.C to NEPAL via heatrow airport,and abu dhabi. And im taking 4 loptops for my friends.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111205005304AA7Rlcg
Timmy Dec 9th 2011 5:31AM
Love my Samsung s9 laptop.
Not so hot on the Kindle Fire.
Nice, but, I could not do with it what I do with my android phone.
Yes I know I can 'root it' but not for me.
I replaced it with a Samsung tab 7+.. awesome.
Old fashion e-ink Kindle? Hands down the best reading experience. Period. Better than a book.
Roku.. Love it. Amazon Prime movies and Netflix and Hulu. Im ready to cut the cord.
I met my 73 old dad for dinner the other night...stacked... his DroidX on top of a Kindle on top of his Ipad2.. He said he got there early.
You left out any mobile wi-fi solutions. Especially international.