Holiday Gift Ideas For Your MTer

<p>Melsmom, we cross posted but I think you might be referring to my D, yes? If so, she wasn't ON a cell phone. A mere distraction of an item falling and taking your eyes off the road can do it....you know how many times we all tell our kids that when we teach 'em to drive, right? :D</p>

<p>It just goes to show you that even the smallest thing can have the biggest impact. I'm scared because I know that my D is pretty consistently playing songs from that thing, despite my warnings! Yes, Soozie, I was talking about your D and all I remembered was that there was a phone involved. Just two weekends ago a friend of mine was trying to find my house so we could go for a jog, called me on the cell ( pulled over slightly & slowed but did not stop) and when I told her she needed to turn around, she did precisely that...without even looking. Next thing I hear on the phone was, "I just got into an accident." Her car was totalled and luckily no one was hurt, but how stupid just the same! It is just way too easy to become distracted on a phone, and I'm afraid that we will be hearing about more distractions as more and more electronics are being manufactured to be used while "mobile."</p>

<p>soozei, I didn't know the circumstances of your D's accident. Thanks for sharing it with us, as maybe someone will warn somebody who will be safe as a result.</p>

<p>maybe cars should come equipped with something that would jam all electronics while in motion</p>

<p>Guys, all this discussion about kids/people driving while talking on cellphones, adjusting their radios/CD players/iPods, etc. reminded me of some research I wrote about a year or so ago. (I write about science at a private research university.) The researcher imaged people's brains while they were attempting to multi-task (to look at things and listen and talk at the same time) and learned something scary: the human brain simply <em>cannot</em> look, listen, talk etc. all simultaneously with a consistent level of attention. In other words, when a person is driving a car and talking on a cellphone, something has to give, and it's usually the person's ability to pay attention to the road around him or her, other cars, etc. Thus, it doesn't even matter so much whether the driver is <em>holding</em> the cellphone or fiddling with a radio/CD adjustment: it's the fact that attention is diverted off the road and other cars and onto a conversation/song, etc. That's why even talking on a cell with a hands-free device is not safe. (Some researchers at University of Utah have apparently done more clinical research on this, putting people in driving simulators and then having them engage in conversations on cells, etc. They learned it's NOT safe.) I think of this each and every day as I drive to around and inevitably see people behind the wheel talking away on their cells. We really should all try not to do it at all. If you need to make a call, pull over. It's not worth the cost you might pay. OK, guys, end of rant. :)
L</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the great info about Cafepress! I found the greatest t-shirts for my S! I have to admit though that a couple of the ones I liked the best were only available in girl styles, but he will get a good laugh out of the ones I did find! thanks again....great place to shop for MT stuff, plus my order arrived in 3 days without paying extra for shipping!</p>

<p>bump for voice recorder info</p>

<p>kyle style... thanks for bumping up. I remember this folder from the last holiday season (we weren't looking for anything then). I'm looking for more current information regarding the latest technology with IPods and voice recorders. We'd like to get our daughter an IPod for graduation, along with any highly recommended accessories that might be useful for college (dorm life, voice lessons, etc.). I know how quickly technology changes, so I was wondering if anyone has made these kinds of purchases lately in anticipation of their performance major child starting college in the fall. If it makes any difference, we have not decided on what kind of laptop to get her. My older daughter who has had a Dell laptop for three years at college, is highly recommending we get our younger daughter an Apple (I'm assuming a MacBook or similar).</p>

<p>Teriwtt, thanks for asking about this, especially the laptop question. I am surprised (well, a bit) that your daughter with the Dell is recommending a Mac. I used to be a Mac person, 100%, but found it a little lonely. It was hard to get certain software, games, etc. for Macs back then. Now that I have switched to a PC (Dell), it seems everything and more is available on a Mac, including software that lets you switch programs between Mac and PC. If I were you, I would give your D's new college a call and ask what they think is the best laptop for students. They may be able to make a recommendation.</p>

<p>My daughter got a Macbook back in October and it is really incredible! We have been more than impressed by the features it has compared to a regular laptop and have decided to switch all of our computers (over time of course) to Mac's. My daughter loves to I-chat with her friends since there is a camera built in. What a great feature! </p>

<p>A goofy hobby my two girls have is making music videos which has been a breeze on the Mac. It is just amazing all of the capabilities her computer has that the dell does not. For my daughter there is no comparison!</p>

<p>There is currently a discussion over in the music majors section on devices for recording music lessons at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=345419%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=345419&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The iPod with the recorder accessory does not do a very good job of recording music. The latest Macs have very good recording capability with the right add-ons.</p>

<p>Our family has been using Macs since day one of ever owning a computer. For college, my girls got a Mac Powerbook G4 laptop (I hope I have that model right).</p>

<p>Our very first computer was a loaded Apple II GS which we picked up in what turned out to be the last year of production of Apple II's. No sooner did we get it, it was discontinued and Apple dropped all support for it. As a result, we became PC users. Now, some 18 years later, my daughter will be going to a college where MACBook Pro laptops, fully supported and loaded with program specific software, are given to all freshmen at a heavily discounted price that is included in the school's technology fee. Comes with a replacement guarantee in the event of breakage, damage or theft as long as you are enrolled as a student. I think our computer world is about to come full circle.</p>

<p>With regard to recording music for voice lessons, classes etc, my daughter has had very good results with one of the new full size IPods with a microphone attached. She uses a microphone that is on a small boom and has been very satisfied. Recorded all of the music for her audition pieces at her voice lessons using it. Just get the extended warranty on the IPod. Chances are you will need it. That's the only drawback we have experienced.</p>

<p>Teriwitt- At Muhlenberg the kids can get free help for PCs through the computer help desk, but it is more complicated with a Mac. We went with a PC for our D. She never needed the help desk, but it was reassuring to know that someone could help her on campus if she needed it.</p>

<p>anothermom makes a good point. Find out what the school recommends and will support. It can be school and program specific. Being on a Mac in a p.c. enviroment or vice versa can present functional difficulties and support issues.</p>