Intel's PC Dads^SM Deliver Holiday Gift-Giving Advice for Computer Techies and Non-techies to Make Shopping a Snap

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 1, 1998 -- With the holiday season right around the corner, the stress of selecting the "perfect" gift is close behind. More and more people are choosing personal computing gifts for someone special.

But while the latest and hottest in PC games, toys, software and even digital photography spell increased excitement for "techies," many people -- especially non-computer users -- feel left behind when it comes to gift-giving options in personal computing.

Fortunately, holiday help has arrived in the form of the 1998 PC Dads'SM Holiday Gift List. The Intel PC Dads (www.intel.com.pcdads/) -- home computing experts Mark Ivey and Ralph Bond -- have cooked up a list of gifts for folks at all levels, from the novice to the super nerd.

"Even computer nuts are confused by the maze of products out there, and novices are completely bewildered," says PC Dad Mark Ivey. "So, we've come up with a list that can fit almost anyone's taste -- and budget."

The 1998 PC Dads' Holiday Gift List focuses on three kinds of buyers: the budget-conscious gift-giver; those looking for snazzy gadgets and software; and those who want to please the most demanding of all, the PC enthusiast. The list highlights some of the hottest technology products this year, guaranteed to make people of all ages happy and make every gift-giver a surefire holiday hero.

For The Budget-Conscious Gift Giver
Need a unique stocking stuffer? Shopping for gifts under $20? "There are a variety of gifts for the budget-minded shopper with a special PC user in their life," says Ivey. He suggests:

• Mouse Pads (under $10) - Whether your taste runs towards Barney*, Dilbert*, or Looney Tunes*, mouse pads are available in any variety of design, including personalized pads with spaces to insert photos -- yours or that someone special.
• CD-ROM Carrying Case (from $10) - Looking like leather notebooks, this sleek type of carrying case affords the protective features of hard plastic cases of new CDs, yet it's easier, especially for kids, to grab software or music CD titles from the plastic sleeves. These carrying cases are sometimes offered as a bundle with mouse pads. Shop around.
• Intel™ BunnyPeople™ Character Key Chains ($5) and Intel chip jewelry ($6-$12) - Enthralled with those rockin' commercials featuring the BunnyPeople characters from Intel? Now you can have your own palm-sized version on a key chain in a number of jewel colors. Earrings, cufflinks and pendants sporting the Pentium™ II processor are available in gold- and silver-toned jewelry to give a high-tech accent to your fashion look. Call (800) 523-9009 or go to the Uniquely Intel Shop on the web at: www.adviceforpcs.com/uniquelyintel.
• Wrist Rests ($10 and under) - Show a friend how much you care with a wrist rest designed to reduce fatigue and protect against repetitive motion injuries commonly associated with keyboards.

Software and Snazzy Gadgets
Want to make a good PC experience better? Present the PC owner in your life with state-of-the-art, easy-to-use, affordable PC gadgets this holiday season. "These gifts add a new dimension to the computing experience, bringing music, realistic sound, and two-way audio and video communication to the desktop," says PC Dad Ralph Bond. The PC Dads' picks here are:

• Software ($50 and under) - Truly something for everyone. For kids, for example, there is IBM*/Crayola* 3D Castle Creator*, which allows children to construct realistic 3D castles on-screen, then print out pieces to build 3D worlds on their own. For gamers, Microsoft* Monster Truck Madness 2* will provide hours of excitement. For the gourmet chef in the family, there is Great Chefs*, based on the PBS* program, complete with video clips of the chefs in action and shots of their restaurants. For the do-it-yourselfer, there is Bob Vila*'s Home Design* from the Learning Company. In addition, shoppers can check out www.softwareforpcs.com for the latest in hot software in education, games, entertainment, creativity, and productivity.
• Thrustmaster* Top Gun* Joystick (under $50) - maximize computer gaming fun with one of the first joysticks to support "plug-and-play" Universal Serial Bus (USB) in this affordable price range. Special features include wide base and realistic grip modeled after an F-4 Phantom fighter jet.
• Speakers (from $80) - New speakers, especially those designed for computers that include a subwoofer that generates a thundering bass, allow you the hear and feel the sound tracks of your favorite game or multimedia title. These speaker sets typically include a subwoofer speaker box placed on the floor along with two "satellite" speakers to produce the mid- and high-range sounds. A wide variety of styles and prices are available to suit your needs and budget.
• Snappy* (about $100) - This neat gadget plugs easily into your PC's printer connector and uses a standard video cable to connect to your camcorder. Once connected, you can watch your videos play on the PC screen, and with a mouse click, "snap" the image you want and turn it into an electronic picture. You can use these "captured" photos to illustrate a website, send as an email attachment, or make paper prints using a color printer.
• Intel Create & Share™ Camera Pack (from $125) - This all-in-one kit lets you make video phone calls, play PC camera games, build web pages, take digital pictures and make movies which you can email on a "digital postcard" on the Internet. Sharing the holidays with friends and family is easier than ever. Imagine seeing and talking to grandma from across the country and thanking her face-to-face for that sweater she knitted for you.

Super Gifts for the PC Enthusiast
Looking for the ultimate gift for the computer owner on your list who seems to have everything? The PC Dads recommend these hot items:

• Speech Recognition Software (from $50) - Imagine dictating a letter or asking your PC to open a file as if you were dictating to a secretary; then print out your copy without ever touching the keyboard. You don't have to imagine any more thanks to advances in speech recognition software and high-performance PCs. Software packages such as Dragon Software*'s Naturally Speaking* and IBM*'s Via Voice* include headsets for "hands-off" computing.
• ColorShot* Printer (about $300) - Fun, new digital photo printer from Polaroid Corp. which produces sharp, high-quality, film-based photographs in just 15 seconds. The ColorShot printer is an easy-to-use digital photographic system that eliminates the need for toner, expensive inks and special printing paper. Since it's designed for "plug-and-play" using Universal Serial Bus technology, it's a snap to connect to your PC.
• Intel AnswerExpress(SM) Support Suite ($9.95 per month; other plans available) - Can't figure out how to put columns into a spreadsheet or connect a printer or install Windows 98? You're not alone. Everyone with a PC – novice or enthusiast – needs a place to turn for fast, friendly and accurate help with their PC questions. AnswerExpress provides email and live technical help for more than 200 applications, as well as virus and data protection, a comprehensive library of tips, product reviews and articles.
• New Dream PCs ($1,200 to $2,000) - Good news for everyone -- there's never been a wider range of performance in PCs at such great price points. For the value conscious, a computer based on the Intel Celeron™ processor ($1,200 and below) is the solution for running today's most common PC applications and opening the door to the Internet. For an investment between $1,200 and $2,000, a computer based on the Pentium™ II processor lets you enjoy everything the Internet has to offer and delivers great performance for today's and tomorrow's applications. Add a DVD player to it and you can watch movies and even run music and PC software CDs from it -- it's "backwards compatible," as the geeks say, with CD ROMs. Software, printers and sometimes a digital camera are offered as "bundles" with PCs for even better values.

"Personal computing can be overwhelming because of all the choices of new and useful products, but a little homework can help make gift selections easier," says PC Dad Ralph Bond. "While our lists are just a starting point, there are many other sources of gift ideas. In addition to checking out the web, major online services, such as America Online, CompuServe, MSN and Prodigy, run holiday specials. Check out magazines such as Family PC magazine for creative gift ideas. I'd also recommend a field trip to your nearest office or computer store, and of course, a conversation with your neighborhood techie."

The PC Dads are part of an innovative, national program aimed at helping non-technical parents and teachers better understand computing and the Internet. Two real dads and managers at Intel, the PC Dads blend offbeat humor and technical knowledge to translate the often complex language of computers into simpler and more accessible terms. They provide helpful hints and humor via tutorial articles, a weekly radio show in Portland, OR, appearances on local and national television, workshops around the country, and media interviews on request. A book in the works for Dell Publishing slated for release in February 1999 will bring the PC Dads' advice and tips to readers everywhere.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.