A quick overview/guide to help you with your tech buying decisions this holiday season.

1. New Technologies:
What’s Hot & What’s Not
Presented by the Monroe County Public Library

2. Reputable Technology Websites
Below are some helpful tech websites to read
reviews, articles, and other info on before purchasing any new
piece of technology:
• CNET: http://www.cnet.com/
• Mashable: http://mashable.com/tech/
• TechCrunch: http://techcrunch.com/
• Wired: http://www.wired.com/
• TechRadar: http://www.techradar.com
There are many others out there, these are just a few that I keep
tabs on regularly.
Do you have any favorite tech websites to recommend?

3. Technology-Related Magazines
Technology-related magazines available for free download with
your library card through Zinio: http://mcpl.info/fiction/emagazines
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Apple Magazine
Consumer Reports (December 2013 issue is very helpful)
Macworld
PC Magazine
PCWorld
The full list of magazines available for download can be found on
the library’s website: http://mcpl.info/fiction/emagazine-titles

4. E-Readers
Reviews of some of the most popular E-Readers (devices only
meant for reading): http://tinyurl.com/7v5sjgz
• Amazon Kindle/Kindle Paperwhite/Kindle Paperwhite 3G
• Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch/Nook GlowLight
• Kobo Mini/Touch/Glo/Aura/Aura HD
There are certainly others out there, but do be careful of the
cheaper, less known or off-brand E-Readers. Many are not
compatible with various book formats and/or move much slower
for their cheaper price. Getting an E-Reader that has a touch
screen will make your life much easier, too.

5. Tablets
An overview of some of the top-rated tablets:
http://tinyurl.com/ltl3pzv
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Amazon Kindle Fire HD/HDX/HDX 8.9”/HD 8.9”
• $139-$379 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 7” or 8.9” screen size
• HDX models feature on-device “Mayday” button
• Compare Kindle Fires: http://tinyurl.com/k9zah55
• Barnes and Noble Nook HD/HD+
• $129-$149 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 7” or 9” screen size
• Compare Nooks: http://tinyurl.com/7u9fgch
• Google Nexus 7/10
• $229-$399 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 7” or 10” screen size
• Compare Nexus’: http://www.google.com/nexus/tablets/

6. Tablets
(continued)
An overview of some of the top-rated tablets:
http://tinyurl.com/ltl3pzv
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Samsung Galaxy Tab/Note (various models)
• $159-$499 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 7”, 8” or 10.1” screen size
• Compare Samsung Galaxies: http://tinyurl.com/8joreho
• Apple iPad Mini/Mini with retina display/2/Air
• $299-$499 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 7.9” or 9.7” screen size
• Compare iPads: http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
• Microsoft Surface/Surface 2/Surface Pro 2
• $349-$899 (higher depending on options like increased storage space)
• 10.6” screen size
• Compare Surfaces: http://tinyurl.com/mw9rabl
• Be cautious of cheap Android tablets:
• http://tinyurl.com/kq6f8mj

7. Smart Phones
• Checkout this article from Business Insider for the best smart
phones as of November 2013: http://tinyurl.com/ke6jrcz
• Some of the top smart phones include:
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Apple iPhone 5S/5C (5C cheaper/made of plastic)
Samsung Galaxy S4
LG G2/Optimus G Pro
Nokia Lumia 925/1020
BlackBerry Q10 (if need keyboard)/Z10
HTC One
Motorola Moto X
• The price of any smart phone significantly decreases if you sign
a contract with a service provider like AT&T/Verizon.

8. Laptops/Computers
• Checkout this TechRadar article on the top laptops available in
the U.S. (includes some for the budget conscious – October
2013): http://tinyurl.com/a2w3cf9
• Digital Trends’ top desktop computers (as of November 2013):
http://www.digitaltrends.com/best-desktop-computers/
• Compare Apple’s Mac Notebooks:
http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/notebooks.html
• Compare Apple’s Mac Desktops:
http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/desktops.html

9. Gaming Systems
• CNET’s best gaming console’s (as of November 2013):
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-video-game-consoles/
• Sony PlayStation 4 vs Microsoft Xbox One:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/06/ps4-vs-xbox-one/
• As with any of these technologies we have discussed today, I
recommend looking in Consumer Reports or similar review
sources for advice/guidance on whatever technologies you are
looking to purchase.

10. Questions/Additional Interests?
There are many more tech things that we could
talk about – if you are curious of anything
else, feel free to ask. This program focused on
some of the more popular technologies, but is not
all-inclusive!

11. Contact Me
Austin Stroud
Instructional Designer
astroud@mcpl.info
812-349-3050 ext. 1666