Small Dog Gift Guide, Part 2

ByMike Moffit

iPod classic, $249.99
“Sometimes it’s comforting to go back to basics. It may not have all of the bells and whistles of the new Apple gadgetry, but it does what it does well. It’s nice to know that playing music is all I can do with it, because that’s all I need it to do! With a 160GB capacity, I can fit my entire library on it (roughly 40,000 songs)!” -Nick

Kensington SlimBlade USB Trackball, $109.99
“It continues to be my favorite product for the 3rd year in a row. A lot of paperwork crosses my desk every day, and I just don’t have the time to find a level spot for a normal mouse. The trackball is extremely comfortable to use all day long, and is extremely precise as well. If you’re at your desk all day long (like many of us), it’s a must. I know that it does take a little bit of getting used to to switch from a mouse to a trackball, but believe me, it will be worth the effort, plus the strain on your wrist, elbow and arms will be gone!” -Hapy

Apple TV, $99.99
“It’s an amazing value and a great way to spice up your living room. Stream all of your iTunes content, your movies and music from iCloud, plus Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vimeo and YouTube. If you have sports subscriptions, you can also enjoy MLB, NBA, and NHL (once the strike ends!). Plus, you can use AirPlay from your Mac or iOS device to play content (even games)! Don’t forget an HDMI cable to go with it.” -Jason H.

Urbanears Medis In-Ear Headphones, $49.99
“I first learned about these when my co-worker was in need of an inexpensive pair of in-ear headphones, and after picking these up, he was blown away by their quality and comfort. I picked up a pair for myself in Indigo and my boyfriend quickly followed suit and grabbed a black pair (naturally we have to tell them apart). I just love these headphones. They come with different-sized ear pieces and I’ve found I use a small in one ear and a medium in another (who knew?!). Unlike many in-ear headphones, they’re comfy and don’t cause any pain to my ear canals even with extended use. The sound is clear and full and the mic really comes in handy when I use them with my iPhone. I particularly like that my boyfriend can use them to play video games and I can’t hear a thing, nor can he hear me when I sneak up behind him. I’m already about to buy a new pair as I managed to destroy one set with my vacuum cleaner last week!” -Rebecca (Jason W. loves the Urbanears Plattan headphones, a traditional over-the-ear style with great sound and same colorful style!)

SwypeGear Sports Adrenaline Touchscreen Glove, $19.99
“Prior to buying these, I had purchased another glove that was marketed for use with touchscreen devices. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its promise. These are a great buy! They keep my frosty fingers toasty warm and work very well when using with my iPhone! I love recommending them because I know anyone who walks away with them will be a very satisfied customer!” -Emily L. (Using Passbook? Click here to download the SwypeGear coupon pass!)

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  • Avoid Accidental Damage! Why Protection Is Important

    With many schools and colleges back in session, we are seeing the usual and predicable spike in accidental damage repairs in our service facilities. It’s very important to remember that a dropped computer, one with a broken screen, or one with any type of liquid damage–no matter how new–has no warranty coverage.

    Small Dog has a ton of products to protect your Mac or iPod from impact and liquid damage. Keep in mind, though, that you still should avoid dropping your laptop or drinking anything near it. Here are my favorite protective products for Apple laptops.

    “Speck cases”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=speck are hard shells that are form-fitted for a precise and tight fit to your laptop. Available in many colors and textures, they are the best-selling and best-performing protection against impact damage.

    The second part of protecting your laptop is a well-padded laptop bag like “those from Timbuk2.”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=Timbuk2 These messenger-style laptop bags have lots of storage, look good, and provide great protection. If you prefer a sleeve-style laptop case, know that they provide less protection, but are still better than carrying around a naked computer. My favorite is the new “Hammerhead line,”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=hammerhead named for CEO Don Mayer’s bulldog.

    Jeremiah Johnson, assistant manager of the South Burlington store, likes the Incipio Feather line of cases, and has a review a little later in this issue of Best in Showroom.

    The third element of a good protection plan is a keyboard cover. “KB Covers”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=kb+cover makes a line of form-fitting super-thin plastic covers that’ll save your bacon if you spill a small amount of liquid on your keyboard. It only takes a drop of water to make it through your keyboard and onto complex (and very expensive) circuitry below. If you must drink near your laptop, you owe it to yourself to get a keyboard cover.

    If, despite your best efforts to protect your machine (or if you didn’t protect it), your computer is dropped or spilled in, it is best to discontinue use immediately to prevent more damage. A dropped computer should have its hard drive preemptively replaced in most cases, and a computer that’s been spilled in should have a thorough inspection by a good technician. Our Technical Service team can often revive a damaged computer for hundreds, or even over $1,000 less than the same repair at an Apple store.