SEI Design Group BlogBlog about news, information, happenings and mojo at SEI Design Group

The Amazon Kindle is always a wanted gift.   Or for someone who already has a Kindle, get a case like the standard black one, or a funky red one.

Sometimes great things come in small packages!  The Chill Pill RapCap is just such a delight.  This tiny microphone for your iPod comes in so many colors, it is hard to decide!

Two SEIers were researching new digital cameras and came up with the same result without even discussing in advance!  Now everyone has to upgrade to this Panasonic Lumix camera.  You don’t have to get red, but Ted did!

And if all else fails, an Amazon Gift Card will do the trick.  After all, who can’t find what they want on Amazon, and you can email or even print the gift card yourself if you run out of time.

So get busy since you only have a few days left and finish that shopping!

As promised, here is the 2nd installment from your personal shopper!  In Part I of the Holiday Gift Ideas, we were tech free, and that is not the case here!  Friend Skeeter helped us with the next two suggestions.  First is a tool that will help you remember information since you can record it in multiple ways.  Livescribe makes a smartpen that is a great idea for students or anyone who wants to record thoughts or information.  His second recommendation is the HP DreamScreen.  Check out the videos on both items.

A new  iPod Touch (the 3rd generation) is the best iPod ever, and will be cherished as a gift.  A small item that can hold lots of music, videos (including TV and movies), your email, games, and a zillion apps.  Basically it does everything the iPhone does without the phone.  The built in speaker is also handy as is the ability to record voice memos or make free skype calls.  There are tons of to keep you informed and entertained.

Our favorite earphones for your iPod (or computer) have a great design and come in five colors.  You get 6 sets of silicon earpads so you can customize the fit, a cable winder, and a small, thin case with this luxurious lightweight  earphone set.   After 2 years, these are still going strong!  The noise canceling properties enhance the excellent reproduction of treble and midrange.  Rock bottom price for these!

We love love love Flip Video cameras.  A tiny, slim, lightweight video camera that you can always have with you is an essential.  We suggest the Flip Mino at $159 (use the code to get 2 free qualifying accessories of your choice valued at up to $31), or the just released Flip Mino HD at $206 with a free tripod.  These are the lowest prices on the web or in stores, and the free accessories are a bonus!

If you want to record still images, we love the Casio S10.  Special sale is $188.99 for this super tiny 10 megapixel camera!

A portable GPS is great for the car or travel.  Save $550 on the high end Garmin Nuvi 650 – only $199.

This post will be continually updated with gift ideas at the best prices, so keep checking back.

Were you waiting for that Apple announcement of the $800 laptop that didn’t happen?  They retained 1 white Macbook for $999, and added new aluminum Macbooks and Macbook Pros and a display that look great, but where is that $800 laptop? Well, we are going to make your day! Here is the Apple MacBook 2.1 GHz, 1GB, Core 2 Duo, 120HD for $869 with free shipping! There is a $75 rebate to get you to this price which requires this purchase by October 27, so don’t delay.  Of course, you can always purchase the same laptop at Apple for $999. 

SEI Design Blog is participating in Blog Action Day 2008.  Please help us fight poverty by joining in our Blog Action Day Activity with over 9,000 other blogs.   For every commenter who leaves a comment on this post today, SEI Design Group will contribute $1 towards Kiva.org. (more…)

After realizing that the Plantronics Discovery 640 bluetooth headset was not compatible with BB Curve, had to upgrade, and quite thrilled about the new acquisition, the Blue Ant V1 Voice Activated Headset.  This video demonstrates some of the voice activated features.  Jimmy Mac – think you will have to upgrade.

At BlogWorld you would see 1 in 4 people with a Flip Video Camera taping sessions or interviewing speakers and attendees.  Here is a deal on a 60 minute Flip Ultra (5.2 oz.) for $117 ($32 off list).  You can get the Flip Mino (3.3 oz.) , which is a llittle bit smaller for $144 ($35 off list).  The advantage of these tiny video cameras is that you can always have them with you, and the software is built in.  Just flip up the usb and plug in to automatically download the videos and charge.

Absolutely addicted to notebooks now.  Favorites  (used for different tasks for work and personal) are: Miquelrius Grid (thanks GP), Black and White Paperchase purchased at Borders,  Moleskine slim cahiers plain journals, and Circa.  Levenger’s Circa series lets you totally customize your notebook in letter, junior and compact sizes.  You can order a $40 sampler set which gives you a letter size setup and more plus a $40 gift card to pick the products you like (so the sampler is free).  Used the card to get the compact notebook with 300 page refill for $9.95 (regularly $40) and starter kits in all sizes.  Try these coupons.

Here is a coupon for Barnes & Noble that gives 30% off notebooks and journals including Spanish ones (think Miquelrius and Paperchase).  What are your favorite notebooks and how do you use them?

We all have a mess of gadgets that need charging from phones to pdas to ipods to headsets. Instead of a mess of chargers cluttering your desk, how about this beauty from Bluelounge, The Sanctuary.  This video demonstrates the convenient end to the clutter.  While it looks like you can save $10 on this at J&R as well as other locations, the only place it seems to be in stock is directly from Bluelounge.   It must be really popular and the 2008 IDEA Award announced by Business Week must have increased interest.

Absolutely THE best monitor for your ultimate computer set-up is on sale until 6/4/08. The Dell 24″ Ultrasharp HD Flat Panel (not to be confused with their other 24″LCD) is $579 with free shipping. This 1920 x 1200 display can be rotated to portrait, and has a multitude of connections.