OK, here it is. My “gift suggestions and ideas for the computer user in your life” article. Unlike other articles in this genre you’ll see this holiday season, I’m not going to focus as much on “stuff” you can just buy for someone, either at the mall or online. Instead, let’s look at some gifts you can make with your computer, to give a little of yourself to your friends and loved ones.

Before we do get to the more creative gifts, here’s some generic stocking stuffers that most computer users will covet. A spindle of blank CDs for the music lover. For the compulsive packrat, a spindle of DVDs to back up data. If you’re thinking of blank DVDs, you might want to do a little “recon” to find out the DVD format supported by the packrat’s computer. There’s DVD-R and DVD+R. They’re not interchangeable. While we’re talking about storage, there’s the key-fob-sized USB Flash Drives. They’re a very convenient way to carry/transfer important data, and more and more memory is available for less moolah. For the people who sent you an email with a virus attached, I suggest a lump of coal.

Now, on to the creative stuff. Got a digital camera, or a scanner, or know (from reading it here, of course) that you can get your old film camera photos “developed” onto CDs at your favorite superstore photomart? Turn your favorite family photos into a calendar. There are several fine calendar-maker applications out there, like Broderbund’s Calendar Creator 10 Deluxe (for Windows only), and The Print Shop for Macs. Sure, it takes time, paper, and a photo printer, but it’s worth it.

Continuing in the photo vein, how about making a digital photo album of this year’s kid’s pics for the grandparents, or memories of the summer family reunion. Before launching into this project, consider who’s getting the gift, and what technology they have to view it with. For example, some folks still don’t have a computer, or even a DVD player. If they have a computer, also consider their level of computer experience. For example, if you just made the “easiest” (for you) digital photo album by burning a bunch of JPEG photo files onto a CD or DVD, some people still might have a difficult time figuring out how to view it on their computer. If you use a particular photo management application to organize your photos and burn a CD, someone without that same application (or operating system) on their computer may have problems viewing the photos as well.

If you’re a little more computer-savvy, you can get around the compatibility issues by making a slide show designed to be played on any DVD player. If you’re a Mac user, you’ve got it made with the best-of-breed iLife digital lifestyle suite. If you’re saddled with Windows, there are several possible solutions as well. However you do it, you can add music, and come up with a true masterpiece.

What if, say, the grandparents don’t have a DVD player, but do have a VCR? You can still make a great slideshow for them. With your movie editing software you can place still images into a movie project, and even pan and zoom into and out of the stills (Apple calls it the “Ken Burns Effect” in their iMovie application). Make a movie of your stills, and then export it to VHS through your video camera and VCR. It’s not the same quality as a DVD, but it beats making a gift that ends up as a coaster because the recipient can’t play it. Ho Ho Ho.

© 2004 Peter F. Zimowski