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Katinka's Christmas Gifts Recommendations 2019, 2020

Best Gift Suggestions for Birthdays, Unique Christmas gifts and Anniversary Presents

Gift Categories

  • Technology recommendations
    (35)
    • Accessories
      (9)
    • Camera's and Camcorders
      (5)
    • Laptops
      (10)
    • Software
      (2)
    • Tablets
      (6)
  • Women's gifts, presents for ladies
    (25)
    • Bags and Purses
      (6)
  • Men's Christmas Gifts
    (9)
  • Teen Gifts
    (28)
    • Gadgets for teens
      (11)
    • Guy teenagers
      (5)
    • Girl teenagers
      (7)
  • Kids Christmas Gifts
    (54)
    • Toddler Gifts
      (9)
    • Girls
      (13)
    • Boys
      (10)
    • Dolls, Plush and Action Figures
      (7)
    • Lego
      (12)
  • Food and Cooking
    (9)
  • Religious and Spiritual Christmas Gifts
    (33)
    • Advent Season Countdown
      (7)
    • Buddhist Gifts
      (4)
    • Jewish gifts
      (6)
  • Smart People
    (13)
  • Movies – my favorites
    (12)
  • Books
    (40)
    • Best Cookbooks
      (8)
    • Best Kids Books
      (16)
    • Biographies
      (5)
    • Fantasy and Science Fiction
      (3)
    • Romance
      (2)
  • Sports gifts
    (6)
  • Funny Gifts
    (4)
  • Christmas Ornaments
    (4)
  • General gift suggestions
    (17)
    • Stocking Fillers
      (11)

Recommeded gifts by theme and recipient

  • Technology recommendations
    • Accessories
    • Camera's and Camcorders
    • Laptops
    • Software
    • Tablets
  • Women's gifts, presents for ladies
    • Bags and Purses
  • Men's Christmas Gifts
  • Teen Gifts
    • Gadgets for teens
    • Guy teenagers
    • Girl teenagers
  • Kids Christmas Gifts
    • Toddler Gifts
    • Girls
    • Boys
    • Dolls, Plush and Action Figures
    • Lego
  • Food and Cooking
  • Religious and Spiritual Christmas Gifts
    • Advent Season Countdown
    • Buddhist Gifts
    • Jewish gifts
  • Smart People
  • Movies – my favorites
  • Books
    • Best Cookbooks
    • Best Kids Books
    • Biographies
    • Fantasy and Science Fiction
    • Romance
  • Sports gifts
  • Funny Gifts
  • Christmas Ornaments
  • General gift suggestions
    • Stocking Fillers

Recent gift suggestions

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  • Women gifts: Funny Unique Christmas presents and stocking stuffers
  • Adult Advent Calendar 2019
  • Top Toy Advent Calendars For Kids 2019
  • Best Laptop for a Teenager
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Best gift ideas

  • Best Gifts Ever
  • Student flute reviews
  • Unique calendars and cute planners

Religious and spiritual gifts

  • Best spiritual books
  • Eid Ul Fitr Gifts, Ramadan presents for Muslims
  • Horoscope Astrology Jewelry

Technology gift ideas

  • Netbooks, iPad, tablets and laptops

Smart People's Gift ideas

  • College Gifts and Product recommendations

Book gift ideas

  • Interesting books

Top Bags

  • Bags, Purses, Backpacks, Laptop Cases and iPad Messenger bags
  • More Cute Bags

Movies

  • Movie Picks – Movie Night suggestions!

Stocking Fillers

  • Funny gift ideas and Secret Santa suggestions
  • Novel stocking fillers

Teen Christmas Presents

  • Fun gifts for teenagers

Top Laptops and Netbooks – Tablets, iPad for Christmas

What’s the Best Laptop Screen Size?

Check out the best size laptop for home, office or college!

Whether you want a small, medium or full size laptop – the question is still relevant: how large should it be? Personally I think the main issue with large laptops is that they’re heavy. Carrying that weight around is not good for your back. Smaller laptops are obviously lighter (though it pays to look at the precise weight), but they often use chips that are slower or not as fast. Personally I prefer a middle sized 13 inch laptop.

Thankfully, with tablets on the market to mix things up, the smallest laptops (often called netbooks) are often not so bad anymore in terms of specifications. Ultrabooks are designed to be lightweight as well as high in functionality.

When it comes to choosing the right size laptop you should realize the following:

  • Laptops smaller than 13 inch NEVER have an inbuilt CD/DVD player. 13 and 14 inch laptops sometimes do, sometimes they do not. You can get an external CD/DVD player to fit into the USB port
  • 13 inch is the size that traditionally wasn’t made much, but it’s come up in the world as small is more portable and the smaller laptops were generally not equipped with serious chips.
  • 15 inch laptops and up do still often have better chips – quadcore vs dualcore for instance. So to get serious work done, or play a media intensive game, a larger laptop may be your best bet. 
  • How often do you actually get your laptop out of the house? If it’s usually at it’s spot on your desk, weight may not be your most important consideration. 

I asked my readers: What’s your favorite laptop screen size?

  • 1% 10 inch
  • 6% 11 inch
  • 6% 12 inch
  • 16% 13 inch
  • 20% 14 inch
  • 28% 15 inch
  • 1% 16 inch
  • 21% 17 inch

134 people voted in this poll.

Netbooks: Advantages and Disadvantages

Netbooks have rapidly evolved since they were first introduced as tiny laptops. They had small screens (around 7 inches) but this has grown to the 10 inches now available. They also generally weigh around 3 pounds. They look exactly like the larger laptops, most run on a Windows Operating System (the earlier versions often ran on Linux) and the average price is between $300-$400, although you can pay more and there’s also some budget ranges for less.

Advantages of netbooks

  • Netbooks normally run on Windows
  • Battery life is often good, allowing all day use when no power source is available, making them great for travelling
  • Generally very affordable

Disadvantages of netbooks

  • The screens are often unsuitable for HD Video Playback
  • Lack of processor power makes them unsuitable for some applications and multitasking

Tablet or Netbook – consumption focused

If your ideal on the road experience is simply to browse Wikipedia, read a novel and check Facebook and email, a tablet is probably all you need.

Personally I’m partial to Android, but at this point the difference between Android, iPad and even Windows is not that big for the casual user.

The only issue I can think of is that for the very casual user, the Windows platform may not be the best bet, simply because you won’t find too many of your more tech-savvy friends who can help you figure it out. Android and iPad are both more widely used and therefore you’re more likely to find people who can guide you through the maze of options.

Best Laptop for a Teenager

Best Laptop for a Teenager

The Best Laptops for Teens! These laptops are perfect for teenagers’ homework and studies, as well as their social lives! Teens use laptops to work, play, design, and develop their creativity. When picking a laptop for your teen, take a good look at... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on August 28, 2019September 27, 2019Categories Gadgets for teens, Laptops
Cute wheeled laptop bags, rolling luggage for women

Cute wheeled laptop bags, rolling luggage for women

So, you’re in business, you have this laptop thing- and you need to actually carry it around… Like to work, and back home. Or on trips.  When on the plane, or from the car to the office, a laptop is still a pretty heavy piece of equipment.... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on February 9, 2018May 21, 2018Categories Bags and Purses, Laptops
What is the best laptop for a teen into programming?

What is the best laptop for a teen into programming?

Is Your Teen a Programmer? If so, they’re best off with anything BUT a Google Chromebook. Even your old laptop with a new Ubuntu install will be a better choice. Why? Because if they want to program, they’re going to want to tinker with the... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on October 18, 2017Categories Gadgets for teens, Girl teenagers, Laptops
Best Laptops for Tweens 2018

Best Laptops for Tweens 2018

Top Laptop Computers for the 10, 11 and 12 Year Old child What are the best choices for laptops for tweens? Obviously the computing needs are going to be about the same as for any user. They will need to be able to access the internet for information,... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on September 27, 2016May 21, 2018Categories Laptops
Smartphones, Tablets, or Laptops: What’s Best for Travelers? 2018 guide

Smartphones, Tablets, or Laptops: What’s Best for Travelers? 2018 guide

When I just got my iPad 5 years ago (yes, it’s been that long), I took it with me everywhere. Outside the house I mostly used it for taking notes and reading documents in meetings.  These days I still take my tablet (an Android Note) with me to... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on May 7, 2016May 21, 2018Categories Laptops, Tablets
Best lapdesk for your macbook (pro or air)

Best lapdesk for your macbook (pro or air)

A macbook, like any laptop, allows you to work anywhere. However, that doesn’t mean it’s good for your precious laptop to be sitting on your blankets, or couch when you work. In fact: it’s not good, because if you work for longer... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on April 8, 2016May 21, 2018Categories Accessories, Laptops
Best Netbook Touchscreen Tablet In One

Best Netbook Touchscreen Tablet In One

Hybrid Laptop – Tablet convertible netbooks and laptops for professional and home use Are looking for a convertible laptop or a convertible tablet? Technology has made using a computer so much easier for us. Sometimes we want the convenience of... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on February 28, 2016May 21, 2018Categories Laptops, Tablets
What is the best Laptop Lap Desk?

What is the best Laptop Lap Desk?

Are you looking for a laptop lap desk to use for yourself or as a gift for someone? They really come in handy for those times that you want to sit on the sofa, watch a little television and use your laptop at the same time. Perhaps you like to work on... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on September 6, 2015May 7, 2016Categories Accessories, Laptops
Best Windows Touch Screen Laptop

Best Windows Touch Screen Laptop

What are the best touch screen laptops available currently? I have compiled a list of the ones that have gotten the best reviews, so far. The technology of touch screen is not that new. We have had the ability on our smartphones and tablets for a while... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on February 27, 2013January 31, 2017Categories Laptops, Technology recommendations
Best lightweight laptop

Best lightweight laptop

If you’re going to use you laptop on the road – and why else get one – it’s a good idea to make WEIGHT a primary consideration. Especially if you’re going to carry it in your bag and on your back a lot, during conferences... More about these gift suggestions...

Posted on June 25, 2011January 31, 2017Categories Laptops, Technology recommendations

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