Little-known Apple discounts

So, you got all your Christmas shopping done yet? Yeah, me neither. If you're on a tight budget like me and have a couple of young whippersnappers running around the house, then you look for any kind of deal you can find. And if you have kids - or friends and family - who like Apple products, then this is a deal you can sink your teeth into.

If you teach, take classes at the local university/college or have children in school, you may be entitled to some pretty cool deals from Apple's Education site. Just go to http://store.apple.com/us and click on "Education Store" on the left-hand side. This will bring up a search tool where you can find the school where you or your family member attends or teaches. After selecting the school, the website instantly turns into the Education Store, which lets you gobble up all kinds of cool tech deals. For example, the Mac Pro, regularly $2,499, is now $2,299. The Mac Mini before was $699, but now $649 and so on. You're even entitled to deals on software as well. And if you doubt that your school will be listed, don’t worry. My son’s middle school, with its little old 100 or so students, was listed. So chances are pretty good.

And while on the subject of deals at Apple, check out their refurbished deals. While on the main store page, scroll down to the bottom and click on "Special Deals" on the left-hand side. This takes you to Apple's certified refurbished deals, where bargains abound. I bought a Mac Mini here for a little over $400 last year, and the deals are constantly changing. You can even find previous generation iPod Nanos, iPod Touches or clearance items for rock-bottom prices. And quality is not an issue with Apple refurbished products. They all come packed with the same goodies and warranty you would receive if you bought it new. The only difference? It comes in a plain box.

So, I hope you enjoy the bargains. Keep checking back here for more Christmas deals on gadgets and thingamajigs for those on Santa’s “nice” list. Oh, and Santa, if you’re reading this, I could really go for a new MacBook. I’ll put it to good use and write many blogs with it. I promise.

Welcome to Digital Thingamajigs

Do you like movies? How about video games? Or are you one of those who keeps every part of your life organized in calendars? Would you like to keep in contact more with your sister in Minneapolis? Or are you already a gadget lover who just wants to keep up with the latest technology trends?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then technology is an almost unavoidable part of your life just like mine. Whether you’re a retired janitor with a curiosity for computers and gadgets or a tech expert who just wants to keep up with the latest trends in electronics and computers, then the “Thingamajigs” blog is for you. From the time I was a young kid tinkering with transistor radios all the way up through my college days as an electrical and computer engineering graduate, I have loved gadgets and gizmos. Now, I would like to share some tips, tricks and the latest gadget news with you.  

From the newest video streaming devices to handheld games and phones to the latest real-word applications of technology, I plan to keep you up-to-date and on the cutting edge of electronic gadgets and gizmos, and try to answer any questions you may have about technology while making you the hero of the water cooler in the process. So, thanks for checking out my blog. I truly hope you enjoy your “Thingamajigs.”