2023 Wishmas Guide... for the Ladies!

Unsure of what to get the teen who's indecisive about what they would like on their gift list or... seeking an alternative to one of the items they're wishing to receive that kinda sorta and more than likely... breaks the bank? Breathe easy... we've got you. Grab that cup of hot deliciousness and dive in!

Funny Purses: A gift that stands out and is worn with pride is usually a purse, but when it's off the beaten path, it turns heads that much more. A fun gift this holiday season could be a nice purse that makes her giggle, and she will appreciate this conversation starter every time she wears it out.

Wireless Earbuds: We ladies love our music, and wireless earbuds offer convenience and freedom of movement while listening to their favorite tunes. These may actually be replacements for some that were lost, but it's a great replacement so that we're able to enjoy our music, calls, and other forms of entertainment that you may not want to hear. ;) 

If she loses earbuds easily, grab a pair of 1More Omthing headphones on sale for $9.99 for 67% off as a Cyber Monday deal!

Portable Bluetooth Speaker: A compact and powerful Bluetooth speaker allows teens to enjoy music with friends, both indoors and outdoors.

Fitness Tracker: Encourage a healthy lifestyle with a fitness tracker that monitors steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns, motivating teens to stay active.

Instant/Digital Camera: Combining the nostalgia of film photography with the ease of digital, instant cameras offer a fun way for teens to capture and print memories instantly. This is the perfect gift for the woman who loves taking pictures, but often finds herself running out of space on her phone and feels forced to make a decision on which ones to delete. The KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro is a 2-in-1 instant digital camera and photo printer. This camera allows you to take digital photos, make instant photos from the camera, and connect your phone to print photos from your phone.

Laptop or Tablet: Essential for work and entertainment purposes, a high-quality laptop or tablet will help her stay connected and productive.

Funny Jewelry: Funny jewelry items, such as necklaces with cats dangling or ramen noodle earrings, make for fun memorable gifts.

Subscription Box: Surprise her with a subscription box tailored to their interests, such as a monthly book club, health, beauty, international snacks, arts + crafts, and more.

VR Headsets: Virtuality headsets are a worthy consideration this holiday season because they give her an option beyond traditional gaming. Mixed reality options such as the Meta Quest 3, also allow for virtual fun using the living room table. The TV would be all yours for sports fun!

Cooking Set or Kitchen Appliances: For women interested in culinary adventures, a cooking set or kitchen appliances like a countertop dishwasher or air fryer could be a great gift to foster their passion for cooking.

Gifts Cards: Gifts are always a thoughtful idea, but sometimes the recipient is a major challenge to provide a gift for. When gift-giving brings you lemons, make lemonade! Provide her with a funny card that taps into the decision to go with a gift card, and walk away with a win! PS - It wouldn't hurt to include a funny purse and jewelry.

Sophima | Guest Contributor

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Laptops vs Tablets: What will you buy in 2023?

Laptops are better than tablets for me, but I understand why people are drawn to tablets. They're useful to some of you, but a laptop is just a better fit for some of us. I want to type on a physical keyboard when I want to type and I don't want to use the touch screen if I'm not on my phone. The best tablets are the iPads, but even they don't compare to a good laptop in my opinion. Relax, I'll explain.

iPads are better than Chromebooks as far as capability. Chromebooks are popular in schools because they're an affordable way for students to access the educational software they need, but they're not as good as traditional laptops. It goes right back to capability.

When deciding whether to purchase a tablet or a laptop, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each option before you shell out the money. Tablets boast efficient battery life, a user-friendly operating system, they're more portable and lightweight, and the camera is usually better on something like an iPad. However, the touch keyboard uses screen space, external accessories can be costly, and the device can overheat with overuse. Laptops, on the other hand, offer a physical keyboard, more processing power, and a larger screen. To the credit of tablets, laptops are typically heavier and bulkier.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what type of tasks you will be using the device for.

If you need a larger screen? Laptop

Need something more portable for taking notes? Tablet

Need to type more often than not? Laptop

Need a lightweight device to mount and control devices from? Tablet

Need to work on multiple things at once? Laptop

Need a lightweight device to do your artwork? Tablet

Gaming? Both! Streaming has made it easy for us to access our favorite console-quality games from any device, but you're paying more if you want to hardwire a tablet.

If you want to settle for something in the middle, both roads cross at a good lightweight 2-in-1 but be prepared to pay. A good 2-in-1 can easily cost you over $1,200 unless you score a factory refurbished option, which on a side note are the laptops that you end up with anyway if you have a warranty and you're outside of a particular window. 

If the system is a brick out of the box, they owe you a brand-spanking new replacement. If the system is past a certain period, you're getting a factory-refurbished replacement. You can't go wrong because any issues are no longer an issue due to the part(s) being fully replaced with a new one. The exterior is usually pre-existing, but little to no marks may appear on the product. Companies won't tell you this, but that gives you an idea of what goes on behind the scenes.

I'm a traditional laptop guy, but another member of the team prefers a good 2-in-1 as long as he can actually draw on the screen. So that's where the benefit for tablet users comes in. If you can't use a pen on the screen, you're better off sticking with tablets like the iPad, but if a 2-in-1 can marry the things you need from both devices you have the best of both. 

I think Microsoft comes the closest with the Surface Pro because you can detach the keyboard, it runs standard Windows, and it has a pen.

Here are the specs for the Surface Pro 9's $1,399.99 option:

• 12th Gen Intel Core i7
• Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Windows 11 Home
• WiFi
• 13" Display (2880 X 1920)
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 Ports
• No Microsoft Office, although I prefer a one-time purchase over 365
• Weight 1.95lbs
• 15.5 Hour Battery
• 1 Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
  
  
• Surface Pro Signature Keyboard - $107.99 (Additional)
• Surface Slim Pen 2 - $92.99 (Additional)

You're looking at $1,600.97 if you want to get the true 2-in-1 experience.

What we know as the traditional 2-in-1 is usually a laptop that cannot detach the keyboard, and one that I've identified in a similar price range is from Lenovo.

Here are the specs for the Yoga 7i's $1,399.99 option:

• 12th Gen Intel Core i7
• Intel Arc A370M 4GB GDDR6 Graphics
• Windows 11 Home 64
• WiFi
• 16" Display (2560 X 1600)
• 32GB RAM
• 1TB SSD
• HDMI
  
• 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Ports
• 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 Ports
• SD Card Reader
  
• Weight 4.19lbs
• 65W Power Supply, 4-Cell 71 WHr Battery (Is my guess since that's the one in a lesser unit)
• 3 Months Xbox Game Pass

• Lenovo Active Pen 2 - $44.99 (Additional)

You're looking at $1,444.98 if you want to add the pen and make it worth it.

I don't want to crap on other tablets, but I don't want to serve up any fluff either. So I'll acknowledge some other tablets worth considering:

Galaxy Tab S7 FE, delivers a very nice Android experience with an S Pen included at no extra charge. This tablet has a good 12.4" LTPS 60Hz display, a Qualcomm SDM778G Octa-core processor, up to 8GB RAM, and a Li-Ion 10090mAh battery. This tablet weighs in at 1.34lbs, which is $552.16 before taxes. If I needed a tablet, I would go for something like this if I couldn't score an iPad.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021), is an affordable tablet that gives you a pretty good battery life to enjoy eBooks, web browsing, enjoying shows, gaming through Luna, mobile games, and notable apps at $179.99. You can't use an active pen on these tablets, but Amazon needs to get with the program if they want to make the device even better. The Fire HD 10 Plus has a 9.73" X 6.53" screen and weighs in at 16.5oz.

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Is the Surface Laptop Go 2... Worth the Buy?

 

While working on a pending project... I got a little sidetracked eyeing the Surface Laptop Go 2. The first version turned my head, but what features do the Surface Laptop Go 2 have that make it worth the purchase?

Let's jump in.

Before I speak on anything else, I have to point out the fact that the laptop has a 12.4" PixelSense touchscreen... which isn't the biggest. So if you were looking for a bigger laptop... keep looking, but... if you were looking for a laptop on the smaller side... this will likely be the smallest quality option you will find. By the way, even if I own other laptops, a well-equipped smaller laptop wouldn't turn me off if it has specific factors I'm looking for. I'm not always in the mood to handle a larger laptop... and I know a number of people in that boat... and one of the perks of this laptop is that it only weighs in at 2.48 pounds... making it the lightest surface laptop thus far.

The Surface Laptop Go 2 comes in Platinum, Sage, Ice Blue, and Sandstone. Platinum has more of a professional touch in my opinion, but the Sage + Sandstone models look nice also. The Ice Blue is... cool (and blue is my favorite color), but... I would love to see this one in a different shade of blue.

This laptop features a full-size keyboard and rocks a 10-point multi-touch screen. 

Before I forget: The 12.4" PixelSense display has the same resolution of 1536 x 1024 (148ppi) screen... as the original Laptop Go.

One thing I'm not crazy about with the entry model... is the RAM and the memory (yikes). 4GB? That's a no-no, I think they all should be 8GB to give the actual laptop justice and bump the storage up on the others. 128GB SSD comes with the entry and mid-range models. 256GB SSD could be for the mid with more for the higher end. I know that some of you don't use as much storage as some of us so aim towards your needs (I can use up 128GB within a few hours). Looking at the price, I'd say if you plan to get your hands on this at all... grab the mid-range at least but it's only $50 less than the best model sooo... consider the best option.

By the way, Microsoft showcases Xbox Game Pass on this laptop, but... that would only make sense with the games playable with lower specs or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which gives you the ability to play from the cloud. I mention this for the parents who may see the games and assume this is a gaming laptop.

For Artists:

I would say that the Surface Laptop Go 2 is also a missed opportunity for artists who want a 2-in-1 for drawing... but that's a segue into getting a Surface Go 3 (if you don't mind the keyboard attachment cover). I was just thinking of the Surface Laptop Go 2's best model at least having the ability to be folded back so that it can be drawn on. It's light, you can use it as a laptop, and it could've been an awesome drawing tablet alternative that you could fold back and use a Microsoft Surface Pen on. It's easy to shrug that off though... because you can get the Surface Go 3 with 8GB RAM + 128GB SSD for less than the entry Surface Laptop Go 2. The entry for the SG3 is $399.99, adding a keyboard attachment/cover would still land you at about $70 less (though you're looking at 4GB RAM + 64GB eMMC storage).

You can always connect an external drawing tablet, but... I'd suggest the Surface Go 3 for artists, while those looking for a small(er than average) laptop to consider the Surface Laptop Go 2.

Additional specs are as follows:

One Touch sign-in w/ Finger Print Power Button (excluding the base model)
Quad Core 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor 2.42 - 4.2GHz
Firmware TPM 2.0 (for security purposes... like with Bitlocker)
Windows 11 Home
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month trial (cloud gaming, but don't forget your controller)
Ambient light sensor
1 USB-C port
1 USB-A port
3.5mm headphone jack
1 Surface Connect port (for your charger and Surface Dock connection)
720p HD f2.0 camera (front-facing)... though the best version should've been 1080p
Dual far-field Studio Mics
Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio Premium: I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and experience the Omnisonic speaker like that... so I can't really tell you where they land on the cool point meter, but they're utilizing Dolby Audio Premium. Dolby Audio Premium delivers a virtual surround sound experience... so if these speakers deliver in quality... the software will do the rest.
WiFi 6
Bluetooth 5.1
Battery life (up to) 13.5 hours

I personally wouldn't drop the coin on the Surface Laptop Go 2... but if I did, I'd go for the best version. That said, realistically, it doesn't have what I'm looking for... and I wouldn't want it to collect dust because of that. If I had a specific project that required me to travel frequently, I'd add this to a comparison list... but I think the specs would lose out to the competition (even under the same brand).

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Should you invest in Refurbished Tech?

You can find refurbished products all over the place. You may even find that we will recommend them from time to time, but... (but but but but... major... but), we don't recommend just any refurbished products. "Factory Refurbished" products are the only ones we recommend, the parts under the hood get replaced if damaged, and the body gets parts replaced if the damage is beyond subtle blemishes.

If it's beyond economical repair, the company will offer a replacement... which is usually always a factory refurbished equivalent. There are times when you can get a new replacement, which usually happens when the product has issues/damage right out of the box or didn't function properly within that window.

Buying from a retailer may not be a bad thing... but it would have to be the third-party seller actually selling first-party factory refurbished items. If a third party isn't selling products based on this type of refurbished option... it's not worth it. Don't let your urge get the best of you.

I would even go as far as saying... if you can get the tech brand new for just a little more, go new. You can get the new warranty, the ability to replace it with a new option if there is an issue, and it wouldn't have any miles on it. If you're saving good money and it helps you land a product you need... have at it.

Take a look at this video from the CBC Marketplace team if you'd like a clearer picture of why you should avoid third-party refurbished tech. I don't know if every company delivers the same iffy results, just remember... the cheap can come out expensive if you don't play it smart.

Here are some of the factory/certified refurbished options:

Dell Factory Refurbished

Lenovo Factory Refurbished (Lenovo has some of the best savings)

HP Factory Refurbished

Microsoft Factory Refurbished

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Eyeing the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet!

I don't normally recommend tablets, and I can't say that I'm recommending this tablet to everyone... but if you're an artist this may be the tablet for you (or someone looking for a good competitor to the Surface Go 2).

You know how pricey the Microsoft Surface tablets can be, not to mention iPads, so to come across a solid one at a reasonable price... I just had to present the one I've been eyeing. The reason why I'm more so being specific about who I'm presenting this to... is because a lot of artists are in the market for drawing tablets.

Having a drawing tablet that connects to your PC is great, but not all artists want to connect to a desktop and have their tablet stuck at the desk or they don't wish to drag around a laptop to draw on a connectable tablet (like I do in rare cases).

There are artists who seek a solid tablet with the ability to draw, and it may come at the cost of lacking some of the pressure sensitivity of drawing tablets that are exclusively made for artists... or in a price range to where artists were in mind via the creative design, but there are solid options that actually measure up.

That's where the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet comes into play. These tablets start at $499.99, but... the best option is only $599.99 unless you use coupon code "P11FORPROS" to save $100.00 (on either option)! So technically you can get the model with the lowest specs for $400 and the best for $500.

This is a similar price range for some of the corded tablets... but it's not just a screen that requires input from an outside source. This isn't a diss to drawing tablets, I own a few (i.e. Wacom Cintiq)... but that doesn't mean I don't want to get up and just go (wherever... whenever) with a single unit for drawing.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Octa-Core Processor (8x Kyro 470 CPU, up to 2.2 GHz). I would've liked to see an upgradable option for to get reach at least 3GHz, but I could like with a 2.2 GHz for my target uses.

Android 10 OS (I wonder if this will be upgradable to 12)

11.5" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED, touchscreen, 350 nits display

Dolby Vision

Quad JBL speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos 

TUV Rheinland Certified (for eye comfort)

4 to 6GB uMCP soldered memory (which shouldn't have to be IMO)

128 GB Hard drive (they should totally have an upgradable SSD option)

Finger Print Scan + Facial Recognition

Bluetooth 5.0

Camera specs:

- Front: 8MP RGB + 8MP IR & RGB Fixed Focus

- Rear: 13MP Auto Focus + 5MP Fixed Focus

Wi-Fi 802.11AC (2 x 2)

Battery allegedly runs for 15 hours on a full charge

One Year Warranty

The specs you see here are under the hood of a 5.8mm/.23in thin lightweight aluminum-alloy unibody design rocking rocking a dual-tone finish + four-sided 6.9mm/.27in narrow bezel display. This delivers enough drawing space for me... as far as a portable drawing tablet goes, and that brings me to the pressure levels fellow artists were waiting to hear about.

The Lenovo Precision Pen 2 delivers 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt detection drawing (same as the Surface Pen). Bamboo Paper + Squid apps are preloaded, though I'd probably hit the appstore to get my hands on Sketchbook ASAP.

The lower to mid cost models don't include a pen or a keyboard, while the best model has both... along with the best specs. There isn't much of a stretch between the models, but... with the coupon code you're getting the best model and the bundle for $100 more.

The closest option I can compare this to would be the Surface Go 2 10.5" starting at $399.99, but... we're talking 1920 x 1280 (220 PPI) resolution on the Go 2 vs 11.5" 2560 x 1600 OLED on the P11 Pro. 

You do get an SSD on this one but for the price you only get 64GB and 4GB of RAM. Like the P11 Pro, you do not get the pen or keyboard with the cheapest model of the Surface Go 2. You don't get the Microsoft Complete Protection Plan with your surface, and plans range from $99 (2 years) to $189.00 (for 4 years).

After adding in the 2 year protection on the Surface + bumping the specs up to 8GB RAM w/ 128SSD + Surface Go Type Cover - English + Surface Pen... we're talking $788.97! So while I won't this is good or bad, right or wrong... the P11 Pro get's my attention more so because it delivers without breaking the bank. By the way, shout out to Lenovo for simply spelling out... that the Precision Pen is a compatible accessory.

Speaking of Microsoft, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet... comes equipped with Microsoft Office apps with reviewers seem to appreciate in combination with the laptop-class keyboard. So there you have it, that's why I'm eyeing this tablet... I don't want a bare minimum served up to have a product released at a lower price tag. I want a damn good deal... and think this is going to do it for me.

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The Amazon Drawing Tablet

 

I'm not sure if anyone else has been wondering this, but Amazon should totally have a drawing tablet by now. It doesn't have to be this small... this is merely an example, but they could literally have a portable version and a desktop version of a good drawing tablet. They make nearly everything else.

Did you know that Amazon sells things like oil for your car and even... Ibuprofen? Those things sell... I totally get that, but I think that an Amazon drawing tablet would be a head-turner seller without there being a major stretch to make it happen. If they were looking for a way to truly make a noticeable revision to the Fire tablet... that would be it, at least for digital artists... but I don't think artists would be the only buyers. 

A pen-enabled tablet would be something useful for a large number of people... even if they don't realize it. Make the Fire pen-enabled and you give owners the ability to draw + write + sign documents. The ability to sign documents digitally goes a long way because you don't have to worry about printing things out just to sign them and scan them back in, which saves paper (and trees).

For now, you have the ability to use the stylus pens with the nub, but... there are plenty of drawing tablets on Amazon for a reason and it wouldn't hurt if one of them was created by... Amazon.

A stand-alone drawing tablet would be great for portable use, and it wouldn't be a bad idea if Amazon created a pen display similar to other products like the 13.3" Wacom One. If you aren't familiar with the Wacom One, it's also a tablet... but it's not standalone and lacks an onboard OS. You have to connect these pen displays to an external device for use... which in this case you have the ability to connect the Wacom One to a computer or mobile device. The big thing would be the price, and if the quality is there... the competition would be on and poppin'. I think $150 to $199 would be a killer price tag.

The Wacom One has a Full HD Display at 1920 X 1080 resolution, covers 72% of the NTSC color space, and 4096 Levels of Pressure Sensitivity at $399.99.

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