Wait. Put down the pitchforks. I know I said just a post ago that writers don’t want boring gifts, and I stand by that. Still, most of us do get a balance of practical vs frivolous as gifts during our respective holidays and birthdays. With that in mind, I’d like to appeal to the gift giver’s practical side today. Beside, I think I’ve thrown in a pretty good mix here.
Before I toss out today’s offerings, I’d like to stress these are not meant to give as “THE” gift. I might even go as far as to suggest that if you will be presenting one of these to a someone special you tape something sparkly or gadgety to it as well. Trust me, on this, I know.
Power Squid – I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the power squid. At first glance it’s a glorified multi-armed extension cord. It goes way beyond that though. If you’re one of those people who have a tangled mess of wires hidden behind your desk screaming out “fire hazard” you’ll eventually thank me for this recommendation. I appreciate that the plug has a swiveled head so I don’t have to push out the bookcase to plug it in. A small thing, but a big thing nonetheless.
The power squid is also infinitely more attractive than your run of the mill surge protector/power strip and takes up a lot less space. In addition to having five cords to plug your essentials into, the power squid offers two more bonus sockets on the body of the Calamari itself. They glow in the dark too, so you don’t have to turn on a light to plug something in. If you’re in the market for a new surge protector or want to replace the one you have, definitely go Power Squid. You won’t be disappointed.
Cricket Laptop Stand – The Cricket Laptop stand is a worthy stocking stuffer. In fact, it’s small enough to fit in a purse, briefcase, or yes, giant Christmas sock. It even has a fancy, be-drawstringed bag to carry it around with. Anyone who works with a laptop on a regular basis will appreciate finding this puppy nestled in the fake cotton surrounding your Christmas tree skirt.
The Cricket Laptop Stand elevates your notebook to a more comfortable height. Since it’s fully adjustable, the height depends on your comfort, not someone else’s. Plus, with your machine raised up off the table, it increases the airflow making you less likely to overheat.
Now that I have one I use it often. I treally doesn’t look like much, but once you use it once, you’ll most likely use it again and again.
Check out some of our other recommendations for holiday gifts for writers and bloggers:
I’ve been looking for a wrist rest for my laptop. I don’t want the entire stand though. Does anyone have any ergonomic solutions for laptop users?
I love those power squids. Love them, love them, love them. I have two — although they’re a different brand and don’t glow in the dark. I have various adapters to make power strips more functional, but I’ll be converting all my strips to squids soon. You can actually use all the outlets in the squids, no matter how bulky the plug on the appliance happens to be!
I haven’t gone to the squid, but do carry a power strip wherever I go. On vacations, I make it a power “brick,” an older version of the squid in that it has one row like a power strip and a second row with more widely spaced outlets for large plugs. Go on an Amtrak train with one (I did) and you’re a king, because most cars have one or no outlets.
Thanks for mentioning the Cricket Laptop Stand. Since there isn’t a link, I’d like to let you know it’s available here: http://www.lcdarms.com/products/Laptop_Arms/Cricket.html. It’s also really handy if you like to watch movies on your laptop.
The notebook purchased should come with a factory warranty and option to purchase a store warrant as well. Upgrades should be part of the purchased package, and many will also include discounted or free software suites. Another good item to look for is an ergonomic laptop stand. Most are handy for travel, and it is crucial to have one if the laptop will be used while lying in bed. These stands allow the notebook to get enough air so as not to burn out the CPU. They also ensure less stress on the hands and wrists of the user, and the back and neck as well.