Love Story With a Few Geeky Gadgets

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I cannot think of a better time to publicly declare my top five technology torches. As an added bonus, some of these things that make my little heart go pitter-patter also make great gifts for your sweetheart:
 
No. 5: MacBook ($999)
Over the past two decades, I’ve owned just about every type of computer the market has churned out, including desktops, laptops, netbooks, and even the iPad. As a content creator—that is, a gal who requires a device that makes it easy for me to blog, write columns, draft memos, communicate with clients, Tweet, etc.—no device meets my needs like Apple’s MacBook. The new MacBooks are relatively light at 4.7 pounds and boast 10 hours of battery life. Additionally, they run on Apple’s user-friendly, zippy operating system, OS X Snow Leopard. If you’re still an Apple holdout, this laptop is a cost-effective way to introduce yourself to the cult of Mac. 
 
No. 4: Mobile Banking (fees vary)
I giggle like a schoolgirl every time I check my bank balance from a balcony of a cruise ship, transfer money from savings to checking while standing in line at Starbucks, or pay a bill while brushing my teeth. For me, the magic of secure, real-time mobile banking never gets old. My bank, SunTrust, offers clients free mobile banking and even has a free iPhone app that allows me to do all kinds of cool, important banking-type things with just a tap of a finger. For the folks out there who do not “trust” mobile banking; I can assure you, your bank takes your online security seriously. Give mobile banking a try today.
 
No. 3: Google Reader (free!)
There is just too much good stuff on the World Wide Web for anyone to sort through it all in one day. With Google Reader, the hundreds of blogs, news sources, Tweets, Facebook notes and other random content I devour on a regular basis comes to me, all in one place. Google Reader works by “subscribing” to the sites, alerts and content I tell it to. When an update or a new posting is made to any of them, Google automatically pulls those “feeds” into its Reader, where they patiently wait until moment I make time to read them. Take it from a gal who has a lot of info to wade through: Google Reader is a productivity and time-management lifesaver!
 
No. 2: iPhone 4 ($199)
Despite AT&T’s frustratingly undependable service—no one is perfect—the iPhone 4 is my constant companion and technological soulmate. From the apps to the camera and the built-in video sharing tools, it’s my geeky Swiss Army knife. This is not to say that the Android platform smartphones are inferior. I believe they are quite fabulous; a quick scan of my Her Chic Geek blog posts over the past year will attest to that. But I’ve been an iPhone groupie since day one, and I’ve watched it evolve into a force to be reckoned with. It’s highly likely that despite its faults, I’ll forever be smitten.
 
No. 1: Kindle ($139)
I’ve started to notice that every time I say the words “my Kindle” I raise my shoulders slightly, cock my head to the side and smile a little. If the iPhone is my soulmate, this amazing, featherweight e-reader is my biggest crush. I’ve shared with you my Amazon Kindle adoration in previous columns and blog posts. True, I was late to the e-reader party. I just couldn’t imagine reading the likes of J. K. Rowling, Barbara Kingsolver, Jules Verne and Stephenie Meyer on an paper-free device. But once I gave Kindle a whirl, I was completely hooked. Even after a year, I’m in awe of its battery life and “book-like” experience. My crush on the Kindle really does grow stronger with every click of the page.