Computing holiday gift guide

Convertible Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, $999

With the introduction of Windows 8, touch is becoming the next big thing with laptops. Hybrids, also known as “convertibles,” are the season’s hot product. If you’re on the fence about buying a laptop or a tablet, why not buy both? That’s where a hybrid comes in. The device can be used as both a tablet or a laptop, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, starting at $999, is one of our favorite hybrids. In fact, we gave it an 8 out of 10 rating and our Digital Trends Recommended Product seal of approval.

The Yoga features an innovative 360-degree hinge design that allows the device to work in multiple modes: laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. The Yoga’s 13-inch screen in tablet mode is a bit large, but there’s also the option of buying an 11-inch version in the future (this model is not available at time of publication). Tent mode and stand mode are both ideal for watching movies, though stand mode expose the speakers at the hinge, giving the user better volume and more clarity. Movie watching is also a joy on the Yoga thanks to its beautiful 600 x 900 pixel IPS display with wide viewing angles 

The power of an Ultrabook combined with a responsive touchscreen and versatile convertibility make this one uniquely solid hybrid that would make a perfect holiday gift. 

PC Ultrabook: Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5, $800

One of the best Ultrabooks we’ve ever handled, the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 is attractive, fast, good for gaming, and has great battery life. Among the 14-inch laptop’s unique features are its discrete graphics and its built-in optical drive. Its weight of 4.3 pounds is about half a pound above average for Ultrabooks, and its thickness of 0.81 inches puts it about 0.1 inches under the maximum thickness for an Ultrabook, meaning it’s not the slimmest and lightest laptop you’ll find. However, you can consider the slight excess baggage a small price for discrete graphics and an optical drive. At just under $800, the Ultra M5 (rated 9 out 10 and a Digital Trends Editors’ Choice) is a safe bet for anyone looking for a new laptop this holiday season.

Mac “Ultrabook:” Apple MacBook Air 11.6-inch, $1,000+

Though not technically an “Ultrabook,” Apple’s MacBook Air is the closest thing to one in terms of its size an power and, according to reviewer Matt Smith, is “an incredible product that remains one step ahead of Ultrabooks.” At just 2.5 pounds and 0.7 inches thin at its thickest point, the MacBook Air is extremely light and portable. It has a bright, beautify display that provides an extremely crisp picture. A huge perk of the MacBook Air is the iLife suite that comes bundled with the machine and includes staples like iMovie and GarageBand. Compared to the quality of software bundled with most PCs, Mac users are getting a much better selection. For those serious about gaming, this is probably not the laptop for you. The Air’s Intel HD 4000 graphics don’t hold up to today’s 3D games.

If the 11-inch model seems too small for you, there’s also the 13.3-inch model that offers better battery life than its 11-inch counterpart and offers a higher display resolution. Plus for only $200 more, it might be worth it for a larger display and larger palm rest.

All-in-one Mac: Apple iMac 27-inch, $1,800+

Consider this all-in-one computer an all-in-one gift: it’s a holiday gift, a birthday gift, a half-birthday gift, and an anniversary gift, all in one – and that’s because of the price. Starting at $1,800, this iMac comes with an Intel Core i5 processor running at 2.9GHz, 8GB of DDR3 memory, Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M GPU with 512MB of GDDR5 memory, and a 1TB hard drive. For $1,800, that’s better than what you would get if you paid the same amount last year model.

However, that’s just the entry-level model. To give you an idea of how much an iMac can cost you with upgrades, the model we tested, which as of November or December will be known as last year’s model, came configured with an Intel Core i5 processor running at 2.8GHz, 4GB of DDR3 memory, an ATI Radeon HD 5750 GPU with 1GB of DDR5 memory, and a 256GB SSD, and cost $2,600. 

Specs and price aside, the iMac offers an amazingly sharp 27-inch LED backlit display with IPS technology and 2560 x 1440 resolution. The new iMacs are just 5-millimeters thick at their edge, so if you’re looking to give a gift with top-notch design and build quality, the iMac is the gift for you.

All-in-one PC: Dell XPS One 27, $1,400+

A Digital Trends-recommended product, the Dell XPS One 27 is the closest competitor to an Apple iMac that we’ve tested. It lacks any obvious faults, offers respectable performance, and has a great design. Like the 27-inch iMac, it offers a beautiful, crisp 2560 x 1440 display. It’s audio output provides excellent clarity and a decent amount of bass, meaning you won’t need to buy an extra set of PC speakers. The model we tested featured a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia GT 640M graphics solution, and will run you $1,799. The basic model, which includes a Core i5 processor, Intel-integrated graphics, and 6GB of RAM, starts at $1,400. 

If you’re a tried-and-true PC user or just don’t want to pay the higher price for an iMac, the Dell XPS – which we rated 9 out of 10 – is an excellent choice. 

Gaming laptop: Alienware M17x R4, $1,650+

If you’re shopping for a gamer this year, we highly recommend Alienware’s M17x R4. In fact, we rated it a 9 out of 10 and gave it our Editors’ Choice stamp of approval. Not only does the M17x offer a beautiful display, superb hardware, and a fantastic sound system, it’s also reasonably priced for such a high quality gaming laptop. 

The $1,650 model comes with a third-generation Intel Core i7-3630QM processor (6MB Cache and up to 3.4GHz), but it can be upgraded to Core i7-3840QM (8MB Cache, up to 3.8GHz) for $350 more. This model also comes standard with 8GB of RAM and a 500GB 7,200 RPM solid-state drive. At this price, you’ll get Nvidia’s new GTX 660M graphics solution, but you can upgrade to 680M for $550. Clearly, you can boost this laptop with higher-end graphics and processors, but the standard version still offers a great bang for the buck. 

The M17x’s slimmed down chassis makes this an easy machine to travel with. At just under ten pounds and only 1.8 inches thick, it’s still not a lightweight laptop, but compared to other gaming laptops, it’s pretty tolerable.

Gaming desktop: Falcon Northwest Tiki, $1,719+

If you’re looking for a great gaming desktop, we’d suggest the Falcon Northwest Tiki, a system we gave a 9.5 out of 10 rating and that also got our Editors’ Choice award. The machine is small, attractive, quiet, and offers excellent gaming performance. It’s easy to work with and, according to our reviewer Matt Smith, is “one of the best boutique computers on the market today.”

At only four inches wide and a bit more than 13 inches in both depth and height, the Tiki packs a lot of punch. The entry-level model features an Intel Core i5 3450 3.1GHz processor, but you can upgrade to an Intel Core i7 3770K 3.5GHz processor, which is what our review unit had, for an additional $205. Our review unit featured EVGA GTX 680 superclocked graphics (an extra $386), but the standard GeForce GTX 650 1GB graphics card will suffice for most. 

Make sure to order soon. According to Falcon’s website, there’s about a two-week build time. A major plus: it comes with a three-year warranty.

PC Speakers: Edifier E30 Spinnaker 2.0/2.1 Bluetooth Speakers, $350

If you want to rock out while you’re working on your computer from speakers that look like they came from a poached rhinoceros, then the Edifier E30 Spinnakers are the speakers for you. Sold for $350 at the Apple Store, these speakers stand over 16 inches tall. The unique shape isn’t just to appear different, it actually works to the speaker’s advantage. According to Apple, each speaker “encases a silk-domed tweeter, a mid-range speaker and a downward-firing bass drive.” Thanks to its built-in Bluetooth, you don’t have to worry about tangled cords harshing your clean desktop’s mellow. It also features an auxiliary input to connect external devices. See that little dome pictured on the right of the speakers? That’s a remote that works within a 30-foot radius. For those looking for a way to spruce up an otherwise boring work area, these speakers will make a great gift. 

Monitor: LG IPS235V, $240

Maybe you don’t want to spend $1,800 on a single holiday gift this year (and we don’t blame you!). If someone in your family has a laptop or desktop that they’re happy with, but they just yearn for a better visual experience, then for under $250, you can make their dreams come true, and their time spent on the computer a thousand times more enjoyable.

Though we admit the design is nothing fancy, the IPS panel provides viewers with vibrant color. No power brick is necessary when plugging the monitor into a computer thanks to its integrated power supply and standard power cable. Plus, its out-of-the-box calibration will put anyone concerned with viewing images the way they’re supposed to appear at ease.  The LG IPS235V features a VGA, DVI, and HDMI video ports, as well as a headphone jack.

With 1080p resolution and a reasonable price, the LG IPS23V5 is a great choice for anyone looking for a new monitor.

Keyboard: Logitech K310 Washable Keyboard, $40

If you know someone who happens to be a workaholic and tends to eat at their desk instead of taking a lunch break, the Logitech K310 Washable Keyboard could make that person very happy. No longer will an accidental coffee mug spill result in a ruined keyboard. With the K310, you can simply wash your keyboard in your kitchen sink or even submerge it in water. Though it’s not dishwasher safe, it can still withstand up to 11 inches of water. If you think a washable keyboard is silly, you might think twice after checking out this infographic from Keeping it Kleen that claims a keyboard is five times dirtier than a toilet seat and 150 times over the acceptable limit for bacteria levels.  

Mouse: Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse, $50

A wireless mouse is a must for desktop users, and for just under $50, Microsoft’s Sculpt Touch Mouse makes a great gift. It offers an ambidextrous design, Bluetooth connectivity, and is even compatible with Macs. The four-way touch strip lets users whip through documents and windows with just the swipe of a finger. The scroll strip also features tactile feedback, so users still get the same sensation they would from a standard scroll wheel.