Is it OK to get someone an older-generation piece of tech as a gift?

—Rudolph the Red Tag Gifter

Giving the gift of tech can be pricey, and last year’s generation is almost certain to be less expensive than this year’s. That said, a year can often bring a big change in design and features, so it’s important to do your research.

Let’s take the iPad for example. Apple’s latest, the iPad Air 2 ($445.00 at eBay)(Opens in a new window) , is a considerable upgrade from last year’s model ($389.99 at eBay)(Opens in a new window) . It’s thinner, lighter, faster, and it has a better camera, among other changes. I’d say it’s definitely the worth the extra $100 bucks.

On the other hand, the new iPad mini 3  is hardly a notable improvement over the second-generation iPad mini . It adds a fingerprint sensor, along with the Apple SIM (if you get a cellular model) and a new gold color option. But for most people, those extra features won’t be worth the extra money.

What about everything else? Reviews are a good place to start. So are comparison articles. Of course, you should also keep in mind the person you’re buying for. A tech-obsessed teen is likely to be a lot more picky about which generation model they receive than a grandparent might be. And if you’re still in doubt: Get a gift receipt.

_________________________

Every time I visit my parents for the holidays, they treat me like on-call tech support and it kind of drives me crazy. I don’t mind helping, but there are only so many times I can teach them how to send an attachment. What can I do to make these “lessons” stick better?

—I Saw Mommy Download Browser Bars

Nothing—at least not if your parents are anything like mine. Sometimes I suspect they’re faking it just so that I come visit more often.

Ask Alex

To tide them over between visits, however, you might want to check out Teach Parents Tech(Opens in a new window). It’s a site from Google that will teach your parents how to do everything from change their desktop wallpaper to crop photos to, yes, send an attachment via email. All of the information is spelled out clearly in a series of videos, by people who are far more patient than I could ever be. Or you can buy them a Fire HDX  tablet from Amazon this year. It has a built in “Mayday” button that will automatically connect them with live tech support at any moment.

Of course, you can’t expect to just hand your parents over to Google or Amazon and have all your problems solved. You’ll still need to do some upkeep from time to time. I don’t suggest tackling their latest tech issues over the phone, but I’ve had some luck over video chat, as that way it’s much easier when you can actually see what the problem is. But if your parents don’t know how to use video chat, well, good luck with that.

_________________________

I’m thinking about going digital with my holiday cards this year, but I’m still on the fence. Do you think digital cards convey the “holiday spirit” the same way that traditional cards do? Or do they just look lazy?

—Feliz Not-a-Card

Let’s face it. Come January 1, all those beautiful holiday cards you send out every year are going to disappear from the recipient’s refrigerator door and go into the trash. That doesn’t mean they weren’t a perfectly lovely sentiment, but it does mean they aren’t going to last for nearly as long as a loaf of fruitcake.

So rather than send a stack of holiday cards destined for the garbage, why not write a love letter to Mother Earth by sending a digital holiday card instead? Sure, they aren’t destined to stare anyone in the face for a month as they reach for the almond milk, but have you seen any digital cards lately? Some of them are really cool! They’re also much easier to personalize, and call me simple, but those stupid Elf Yourself(Opens in a new window) videos get me every time.

But perhaps the best argument for digital cards is just how much easier they are to send out. You probably already have an email address for just about everyone you know, so you can send your season’s greetings to as many people as you like in one fell swoop. Trying to track down actual, physical addresses, on the other hand? That’s a tradition I don’t mind giving up. 

_________________________

Need some tech etiquette advice? Check to see if your question has already been answered, or send Alex an email at [email protected].