Holiday 2011 tech buying guide, and alternatives

It's that lovely time of year again, I suppose; folks rushing all over the place to fulfill wishes of our consumer-centric society. So, in the spirit of the season, I'll try my best to parse the dozens of new tech pieces people are drooling over and their alternatives.

Note: All prices are for base models.

Tablets:

The Request: iPad 2 (apple.com/ipad) $499

The Contender: Kindle Fire (amazon.com) $199

Most of us know the iPad at this point, but not many will know the Kindle Fire. The Fire is capable of much of what the iPad is capable of with a significant price margin. Some might groan that it doesn't have an Apple logo, but if it does everything they want it to do then shame on them for complaining.

Notebooks:(full size)

The Request: Macbook Pro (apple.com/macbookpro) $1,199

The Contender: HP Envy 14 Series (hp.com) $999

Look, I don't like HP. Macs are awesome, but saving money is MORE awesome. Some would argue the HP is higher cost-over-time, but depending on what you do, that is moot. Fact is that you can out-spec a Mac with a comparable PC at a lower price point any day.

Notebooks:(ultraportable)

The Request: Macbook Air (apple.com/macbookair) $999

The Contender: Asus Zenbook (zenbook.asus.com) $969 (on NewEgg.com)

Don't let the small price gap fool you. The Zenbook I found for $30 less than the Air has twice the RAM and SSD space, which gives it a lot more headroom for files and apps and speedier system performance and multitasking. Apart from that, they are nearly identical in specs and features. However, the Air wins in battery life.

Bonus Category: The Notebook for People Who Know Nothing About Computers

Google Chromebook (google.com/chromebook) Starting at $299

We all have "that" family member. The one who needs to get connected, but can't ever seem to not break everything, ever. This is an inexpensive option for those that need internet access and document management but can't perform regular maintenance on their own.

Smart Phones:

The Request: iPhone 4S (AT&T / Verizon, apple.com/iPhone) $199 (w/2yr contract)

The Contender: Samsung Nexus S from Google (Sprint, google.com/phone) $99 (w/2yr contract)

The Surprise Entry: HTC HD7 (T-Mobile, Microsoft.com/windowsphone) $99 (w/2yr contract)

Not EVERYONE wants an iPhone. There are others. Some are even better in some ways. For half the price, you can try a different platform that might suit your needs better. Windows Phone 7.5 is doing quite well, as is Android.

It may seem like I am bashing Apple here, but I'm not. They make great products, but their products are expensive. If you, like many, have been hit by the recession, saving money and getting comparable use from your investments vs. the "oh ah" label products is wise. Plus, Apple could use the competition.

Be safe and enjoy the holidays.