Holiday gift suggestions

By Robert Sanborn

It is that time of year to think of the computer products that will make life easier for you. I know CES is just around the corner but put these items on your wish list and you will find that life with computers gets easier.  So here is a mini shopping list of some cool and very useful products.

What will be exciting about notebooks this year is the new category called the "Ultrabook". Think of it as one of those miserable Netbooks on steroids with more power, better graphics, and great battery life. The Asus Zenbook is the best of the bunch. About $1200.http://zenbook.asus.com

If you have to have a tablet computer, then you have just lots of choices, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is one of the best Android tablets around. Surf, read email, play, videos, and more. Get the 32GB version. About $600. www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab

Smartphones are it and what rules the roost in the USA is the Apple iPhone 4S. It does everything a tablet does and also gives you directions with built in GPS and a terrific camera. Watch those data minutes and read the fine print from the phone provider. About $200. www.apple.com

There is nothing that kills your computer experience more than having a dead hard drive or one wiped out by malware. Back it up and the Seagate GoFlex Ultra external drive is the way to go. Just do it. Available in nearly every computer store.About $100.www.seagate.com

If you have the backup, then you need the Internet security package and the best rated one is Kaspersky Pure Total Security. Good for three computers, great protection against nearly everything, and a bargain for those of you that shell out money everytime you get hit. Available in nearly every computer store.About $45. http://usa.kaspersky.com