Ultrabooks ($900 and Up)
I prefer Windows PCs. So although I feel a pang of gadget lust for the slender design of Apple’s MacBook Air, buying one is out of the question. Fortunately, Intel and PC makers have realized that people like me are a market worth pursuing, and have worked together to create Ultrabooks–slim, light laptops with long battery life that run Windows. I tested out and liked Toshiba’s Portege Z835, and reviewers have also praised the Asus Zenbook and the Lenovo U300s. Ultrabooks start at around $900, depending on specs and screen size.
(MORE: 2012: Year of the Ultrabook)
MOG ($10 Per Month)
Subscription music hit the limelight in 2011 thanks to Spotify, which offers free music on-demand and a $10 per month service that includes access on smartphones. I prefer MOG instead because it uses a web app instead of desktop software, so you can access it on any computer without installing anything. It also includes a radio service that lets you pick an artist and mix in similar music, and any artists you flag as favorites get synced across all devices. Target sells subscriptions in gift card form, but at $10 per month, it’s only a great gift if you know someone will stick with it.
MightyText (Free)
As a free app, MightyText doesn’t qualify as a gift, but it’s so good that you might consider setting it up for a loved one over a holiday visit. MightyText is actually two apps, one for Google’s Chrome web browser, and the other for Android phones. Install them both, and you’ll be able to send and receive text messages through the browser, using your existing phone number. When you’re at the computer, it’s so much easier than reading messages on a tiny screen and typing responses on a cramped software keyboard. Set it up for relatives, and they might not even remember that you didn’t get them a real gift.