Your Guide to High-Tech Holiday Goodies

It's time once again for holiday shopping, and you've got a plethora of technology choices before you. With so many options, it's easy to get confused and grab the first thing you come across. To help you avoid the stress of shopping for technology this holiday season, we've prepared for you this guide so you can be sure that you're purchasing the best item for people on your list.

Chromecast
Chromecast is a cheap device, retailing at $35, and it's about the size of a USB stick. The dongle plugs into your TV via HDMI port, turning it into a smart TV. With Chromecast, you can stream Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Google Play movies to your TV from your PC, tablet, or smartphone. Another great feature is its ability to "cast" chrome web browser tabs to your TV. This allows you to share your web experience or Google presentations via your big screen TV.

FitBit Flex
For the health conscious person on your gift list, there may be no better gift than the FitBit Flex smartwatch. At $99 this easy-to-use device tracks your steps, hours of sleep, calories burned, and syncs to other smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops via Bluetooth, and it's fashionable!

Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader
Avid book readers will enjoy the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader. This reader is black and white and solely dedicated to digital files such as Epub, PDF, and JPG, and it even supports Wi-Fi. It has a clear display, and even in sunlight there's almost no glare. This is a huge selling point for those who like to read outside, and it's only $50. It comes with 2GB of internal storage and there's a MicroSD slot for expandable memory.

LogiTech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760
Your Earth-loving friends will enjoy the LogiTech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760. This $55 keyboard syncs to your computer, iPad, or iPhone through Bluetooth, and it's comfortable to type with. With this keyboard, you will never have to worry about charging it because the solar panel can use any light source for charging, even a lamp!

Apple iPad Air
Apple's latest tablet offering, the iPad Air, steps up the processing power to 64-bit thanks to the new A7 processor, and it has a stunning retina display of 2048 x 1536 on a 9.7-inch screen. The iOS7 device weighs less than a pound, and prices start at $499 for the 16GB model.

Microsoft Surface 2
Microsoft's Surface 2 runs Windows 8.1 RT which offers a more PC-like experience than the iPad, and it has a screen size of 10.6 inches at 1920 x 1080. There are a few Surface 2 features that you won't find on the iPad like a 3.5 megapixel front facing camera that shoots 1080p video, a USB3 port, expandable memory of up to 64GB via a MicroSD slot, and a video out option allowing you to hook up a second monitor. With all of these extras, and a slot for a keyboard that will run you an extra $150, it's a bit heavier than the iPad Air, weighing in at 1.5 lbs. The 32GB version will run you $449, and the 64GB version costs $549. If you want to upgrade to the Pro version in order to get the full Windows 8.1 experience, then you will be spending $899 for the base model.

Nokia Lumia 2520
If you're looking for a slightly sleeker and lighter tablet than the Surface 2, then you will want to consider the Nokia Lumia 2520. It offers many of the same features such as expandable memory, the ability to attach a keyboard, and a great battery life. It also has a powerful 6.7mp camera that can shoot 1080p video. The Lumia also has a micro sim slot capable of LTE and come with several color choices. The 32GB model runs $400 with a data contract.

Happy technology hunting this holiday season! If you ever need advice about technology don't hesitate to call Heart of Texas Network Consultants at (254) 848-7100. Our trusted technicians stay up to date on technology trends and can point you in the right direction when you are looking to purchase technology for your business.