Tuesday Tech Talk: Last Minute, Low Cost Gifts

For this final Tuesday Tech Talk entry before Christmas, I thought I would share my last minute low cost, gift ideas to give your Catholic techie. Most of the items I recommend are priced under $20 and can be downloaded instantly or picked up at a local office supply or electronics store.

Amazon Gift Card - We love gift cards in our family because you can buy what you want, when you want. We often wait for after-Christmas sales to use our gift cards. The Amazon gift card provides the techie with a number of flexible options. He can purchase apps, media content or even electronic hardware. By the way, Amazon has a large number of Catholic eBooks, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Some of them are FREE! I recommend using this link with a discerning eye as not all the content is guaranteed to be loyal to the Church magisterium.

iTunes Gift Card - OK, I promise this will not turn this into a list of gift cards, but this time of year you can often find deals to purchase iTunes cards at reduced rates. That means FREE money. The iTunes store has the largest app library and lots of media content too, including the iMissal app.

Surge Protector - I think it's crazy that we will invest a large sum on a quality laptop or other electronic device and skimp on a surge protector (if we even get one). I recommend doing some research for the appropriate surge protector for your needs.

Screen Cleaners - I like to use the iKlear products for cleaning my iDevices and laptop screens. The cloths that come with the kit are good to carry in a laptop bag to clean up before a meeting. The larger cloths are great to keep in your desk.

Sugru - This great little invention looks and feels like Play-Do. It is a malleable rubber that can be used to enhance, repair or trick up your tech gear. Your imagination is your only limitation. Once the sugru is adhered and formed to a surface it will eventually harden. I have used it to repair eye glassed and an iPhone charger chord.

Catholic e-Books - I mentioned above that Amazon carries a number of Catholic e-Books. If you don't want to worry about the fidelity of the content, I recommend purchasing your e-Books at Aquinas and More, Ignatius Press or Scepter Publishers. Wherever you choose to make your purchase, I recommend Surrender by Father Larry Richards and Holiness for Everyone: The Practical Spirituality of St. Josemaria Escriva by Eric Sammons.