It was a great Christmas in this household. Not only did the kids get to spend time with one set of grandparents, they technically got two Christmases. While the myth of Santa Claus is probably all but ruined, I think these ruffians don’t mind if it always means an extra set of presents.
My wife and I prayerfully considered (no, really) what to get the kids. We leaned towards clothes and gadgets, but with the fluid nature of tech, getting newfangled pieces is almost never on the radar, as chasing the latest and greatest gadgets is a losing and very expensive battle. I’m familiar with Android and know that you can extend these devices by rooting, and tend to have an eye for decent hardware; and as the kids are already immersed in the ecosystem, it made sense to build on that by regifting technology this year.
Spreading the Joy by Regifting
Anyway, we ended up sliding down the old Nook Color down to our son. Rooted previously, all the games he could want (I use it as a review device) and a new case… the boy was on the moon. Still is, so much so he enjoys reading the Bible App for Kids to his baby sister every day.
The older daughter? She is the eternally grateful recipient of her mother’s old rooted Optimus S. It was cheap when my wife got it, cheaper now, and is rocking a cheap prepaid plan on Sprint MVNO Ting. With her ill-advised (my opinion) $5 bling eBay case, no one can touch her. She also got some Google Play spending money for her trusty Nook Color, and a standing choice of a new ROM.
The baby got the other hand-me down: her brother’s book reader, and opportunities to play educational games on the old EVO as a wi-fi handheld.
I saved the best for my wife. New Nook HD+, and she loves me for it. I still think the Nook HD and HD+ are vastly underrated value-wise; with stock access to the Google Play Store, they are more valuable. With a good keyboard, I might just forego a laptop when my current one dies. For a frame of reference as to how highly I regard the Nook HD+, consider that it is the only Android I haven’t rooted within hours of getting it.
Regifting Next Year
Part of the reason Christmas was so great is that we are blessed with good kids. My wife was willing to give up her old Nook Color without knowing she’d get a replacement. At just over a hundred bucks, Christmas didn’t break the bank at all. We had opportunities to talk about what is really important at Christmas, and our duty to others, which isn’t always about receiving.
I can’t wait till next Christmas!
[Image courtesy of Goldstardeputy via Flickr Creative Commons & Kalexanderson via Compfight cc]
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