Extension Inbox from 2011

Tablet computers burst into the technology market a little less than two years ago with the launch of Apple’s iPad tablet. The iPad tablets account for nearly 80 percent of the tablet market, but other manufacturers, like Amazon, Motorola, Samsung and Toshiba, are introducing their newest version of the tablet just in time for the holiday season.

The holidays are quickly approaching, and little ones have begun the eager countdown to Christmas morning. A tradition in many families is to write a letter to Saint Nick, and many tech-savvy children are turning to the Internet to get their letters to Santa in on time.

Gifts for the technology lover do not have to be confusing or expensive, and there are many options that can help fill in spaces under the tree without breaking the bank.

My mother referred to these smaller items as “filler” presents. If we woke up Christmas morning to find a shiny bicycle beside the tree, we knew that every other present underneath the tree would be socks and underwear.

As Christmas wrapping paper litters the living room floor, gift recipients eagerly tinker with their new gadgets and gizmos. But what should they do with their old computers, cell phones and monitors?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans abandon 12 million to 14 million computers each year. Of those, 75 percent are stored in closets, and 50 percent of those could be donated.

Setting up wireless Internet access for your home or home office may sound daunting, but with careful attention to detail and a little patience, it can be done in an afternoon.

First, decide whether wireless Internet access is right for your home. There are several benefits to wireless access. For example, it can allow you to use the Internet from anywhere in the house without being tied to a network cable. It also allows you to connect multiple devices (computers, iPads, gaming consoles) to the network.