The pros and cons of the Kindle lay out like this:

3 reasons why the Kindle is a great gift idea for a non-techy:

• It operates essentially free from wires. Meaning it doesn't require any connection to a computer, as it can access everything wirelessly.
  
• The Kindle does more than just books. It can deliver any type of print content. Books, newspapers, magazines (not to mention any blog or website feed).
  
• It reads like a book. Amazon has placed a lot of effort into being sure the Kindle screen is easy on the eyes. Text looks amazingly close to its print counterparts.
  

3 reasons why its a bad gift idea for a non-techy:

• It is new and different piece of technology. Any way you put it, new is new, and change is change, and some people are uncomfortable with that. It's likely a non-techy has zero issue with picking up a book, paper or magazine and settling down for a read. Why ask them to change?
• Its expensive. The Kindle retails for $359, making it a pretty risky bet if you are not sure your non-techy will adapt to it well. 
• Kindle Books are not free. You'll still have to shell out $10 or so per book that you download.
  

If your giftee is fairly tech savvy and loves a good read, the Kindle is a good bet, and sure to be a hit. However, don't expect a technology averse friend or loved one to suddenly decide they'd prefer a fancy computer book machine to a good old library book.

Wikipedia defines Twitter as:

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 bytes in length. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.

Still a bit confused? In essence, Twitter allows users to post short messages which others can choose to subscribe to. People who subscribe to your updates are called your "followers", whereas when you choose subscribe to someone elses updates, you are "following" them.

Perhaps the most common misconception about twitter is that it is mostly used to let everyone know exactly what any user is doing at any particular moment. e.g. "Watching reruns of Flavor of Love" or  "just turned right on main st.". While there are certainly users who treat Twitter as a tool to update the world on what they are up to, you'll find most users tweet about topics that are of more value.

What makes twitter different than Facebook statuses, IM away messages, and the like is that the follower/followee relationship is not always a two-way street. For instance, I follow Shaq (@THE_REAL_SHAQ) because I am a huge Suns fan, and enjoy his personality. Shaq, on the other hand, does not follow me back; I imagine mostly because he likely does not find me as entertaining and is not overly concerned with what I am doing. So I can go along following Shaq and getting updates about what he is up to, while he will continue to never know I exist...

But who should I follow? you ask... Great question, lets break it down a bit.

1. For starters, we highly recommend you follow @degeeked (shameless we know).
   
2. Import your gmail (or other) contacts and follow any of your freinds or family who are using twitter. 
3. Are there others in your professional life you'd like to follow? Who is the industry genius you highly respect? The guru who's blog you read daily? Search their name and follow them.
   
4. How about your hobbies? Do you love knitting, sailing, bug collecting, etc. Search and find others who enjoy the same things; they are often a great group to follow.
   
5. What about the celeb you are secretly obsessed with? A good portion are on Twitter. Track them down and stalk away. 

But who will follow me? How do I get followers?

1. Provide good stuff - Don't fill your twitter stream with info about your cat's diet. Tweet about the same stuff you would have real world conversations with other people about.
   
2. Be active - When you only post once a month, chances are unless you are @BarackObama, you will have a bit of trouble keeping a good number of followers.
3. Be helpful - When you see a tweet from someone who needs something you can help with, send them an @ reply. They'll appreciate your help and follow in return 9 times out of 10. 
4. Get famous - doing so will allow you to skip through steps 1-3.

Still confused as to the who, what and why of Twitter? Give it a whirl, you'll get the hang of it quick. You may even find you are able find some great tweeps to connect with.

We've recently updated this list to reflect the latest information from Amazon. This time around, Canon and Nikon split the list exactly, each with five cameras on the list. Canon's new 15.1 megapixel Canon 50D made the biggest leap since our last update, jumping five spots from tenth to fifth place. Notably, Canon's latest prosumer model, the $3000 5D Mark II, has also moved up a couple spots.

1. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
2. Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
3. Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
4. Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
5. Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
6. Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
7. Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
8. Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
9. Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
10. Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Do you have one of these cameras? Prefer another one? Tell us in the comments below!

In short, the iPhone 3G is an iPod touch, plus a cell phone. However, that doesn't quite tell the whole story. In typical DeGeeked fashion, we'll break it down for you.

Features both the iPhone and the iPod touch have:

• Audio and video playback
• 3.5-inch touchscreen
• Wi-fi connectivity
• Ability to run applications and games from Apple's App Store
• External speaker (although the iPhone's is better).

Features only the iPhone has:

• Cell phone and all related features like microphones, Bluetooth for connecting those weird earpieces, etc.
• 3G/EDGE internet connectivity, which comes with all of AT&T's iPhone plans.
• GPS chip, which can find your location and hook up with Google Maps, but it won't give you turn-by-turn directions like your Garmin.
• Camera, both devices can display photos, but only the iPhone 3G can take them. (Lame, we agree.)

Which one should I get?

Essentially, if you already have a cell phone you aren't planning on upgrading any time soon and just need a new MP3 player, go with the iPhone touch. You'll get all you need, plus all the extra stuff like video playback, apps and games, etc.

If your current cell phone and/or calling plan is showing its age and you're also looking for an all-in-one audio-video-gps-internet device, there is no better option out there than the iPhone 3G.

Luddites, have no fear!

Some people mistakenly think that the they aren't "techy" enough for the iPhone or that it will be too complex for them. Apple is known for making products that are easy to use, and the iPhone 3G is no exception. Just because the iPhone 3G is is on the cutting edge, that doesn't mean it's hard to use. Quite the opposite.

The DeGeeked staff all agree that an iPhone is easier to use than a standard cell phone. No more figuring out those arcane cell phone menus using your keypad. On the iPhone, you just touch the screen. Want to make a call? Tap the "Phone" icon. Want to check your calendar? Tap the "Calendar" icon. It really couldn't be any easier.

• Use Craigslist to look for used items, a new job, or to get rid of that stuff that's been sitting in your basement for years.
  
• Use your bargaining skills to get a deal on any item you are considering purchaings. This is what amounts to a digital yard sale, so paying full price is for suckers.
  
• Bring your patience; there are a lot of sincere buyers and sellers on Craigslist, but there are an equal amount of tire kickers, low-ballers, and general cheapskates.
• Buy in person, cash only.
• Sell in person, cash only.
• Act quickly. Chances are that if there is a good deal out there, it won't last long. Contact the poster and make an offer along with leaving your phone number. Sometimes email communication is just too slow.

Don't:

• Give away any personal information to potential buyers or sellers. Craigslist is a breeding ground for scam artists disguised as real buyers.
• USE ALL CAPS FOR YOUR POSTS. IT DOES NOT MAKE YOUR POST MORE APPEALING!!!!!!!!!! JUSTHARDERTOREAD.
  
• Forget your common sense. Chances are if it sounds too good to be true it is. A good rule thumb: treat Craigslist (and any site on the web) just like you would the real world. You wouldn't give your SSN or bank info out to a stranger at a yard sale, so don't do it online either.
  

Take a look around before you jump in head first. In no time you will be a natural at skimming and skipping right over the blatent junk, scams, and spam. There are some incredible deals to be found, and plenty of money to be made selling your used items. If you still need more info, check out Amazon's selection of Craigslist guides.

Bored with all the shopping? Check out the Best of Craigslist as nominated by users; it'll keep you entertained for hours.

Facebook describes itself like this:

"Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet."

This is a fairly accurate description of the site. Facebook is a Social Network, which is a term used for web sites that are designed to connect people. Some social networks are designed to connect people with similar interests virtually, while others are designed to connect you to people you know or have known in the real world. Facebook is a bit of both, and is used by people to connect with old friends, classmates and even family, but is also used to connect people on any number of topics.

Growing by almost half a million new users daily, Facebook has quickly become one of the most popular social network on the web, so there is a good chance a number or your friends, colleagues and coworkers are members. (If you happen to be between the ages of 35 and 54, you are in the fastest-growing demographic group on Facebook.)

Each Facebook user has a "profile," which is essentially an easily updateable autobiographical snapshot, containing:

• A profile picture, which is an image of yourself that will be seen by other users when scanning other users' information.
  
• Demographic data, such as age, hometown, college, high school, employers, marital status and more.
• Groups that the you are a member of on Facebook, such as "poodle owners united" or "I heart cheese."
• Hobbies and interests, including favorite music, sports teams, books, activities and more.
• Facebook Wall, which is a place for your friends to write you a message, which will be viewable by all your other friends.
  
• Status bar, which gives others a view into what you're are up to. "Steve is waiting for Santa," or "Tammy is getting ready for vacation."
  
• Photographs, both those that have been uploaded by you, and those that have been uploaded by other users and have been "tagged" as having you in them.
  

A profile can have as much or as little of the info noted above, its all up to you. Share what you feel comfortable sharing. Once your profile is up, the only thing left to do is get some Facebook "friends" and connect. You can search for a specific name, email address, a high school class, or by a former employer. Once you are friends with another user, you can also take a look at who they are friends with and connect with those you know also.

It may seem like a daunting process to get up and running, but the process of using Facebook is very easy and can be very rewarding and fun. Once you join, the site will walk you through getting up and running. Give it a shot, see who you find! If you need more, check out  Facebook Mania's detailed guide for beginners.

Links mentioned in this video:

• POV.1 Official Web Site
• Flip Mino HD at Amazon.com
• Kodak Zi6
• Aiptek Action HD GVS

These videos are a new thing for us at DeGeeked.com. Please let us know what you think of them - comments, ideas for future episodes, ways we can improve them, anything - in the comments below or on out Youtube channel at Youtube.com/Degeeked. Thanks!

As with most technology, it really depends on how you plan to use it. Are you looking for portability? How large of an area do you hope to fill with those Britney Spears jams using your new dock? Do you need a home stereo that features an iPod dock or something simpler? Are you the guy whose ear notices the sigh five seconds into Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here?

Without answers to these questions it's tough to make a perfect suggestion for every reader, but check out the three options below:

• For the budget-conscious, we recommend the JBL On Stage Micro. It is relatively cheap, and can be very small, so you can pump the jams anywhere you please. Buyer beware: the sound quality is a bit lacking on this little guy, and the volume has its limits.
• Designers and fashionistas should go with the Vers hand-crafted wood dock. it has the style that makes it more like room decor and less like a piece of electronics. This dock is great for a living, sitting, or dining room and comes in a number of natural wood finishes.
  
• The audiophile might want to consider making the investment in Bose SoundDock Series II. It's small, but don't let that fool you. It packs an auditory punch. This is the iPod verision of the Bose Wave Radio you have seen in TV commercials for years. At under $300, it's not cheap, but the sound quality is worth it, especially if you have a keen ear for that sort of thing.
  

There are hundreds of choices out there, and depending on your needs you can likely score a good deal on what you are looking for, as prices have been driven down by the iPod's popularity. You might also want to consider making the investment in a home theater system with an iPod dock and kill two birds with one stone.

What about you readers? Do you have a dock you love? Or maybe one you hate? Tell us about it in the comments below.

When reformatting a hard drive (or any electronic device), you are essentially starting from scratch and removing all the information that was on it in one fell swoop. The easiest way to do this is one of the three options below:

1. Use your operating system's install disk to reformat your hard drive reinstall Windows (or whatever your OS happens to be). You will need your original disk that came with your machine; insert that disk and restart, then follow these directions.
   
2. If you no longer have your system disk, you may want to consider downloading a free operating system such as Ubuntu, which you can use in nearly the same fashion as number one.
3. And if both of these options are a bit scary, and you want to be sure you get everything, you can purchase a program such as Wipedrive that will take you through the process step by step.

And remember, when reformatting your drive there is little damage you can do, since you are looking to remove everything anyway. But be wise, and be sure you backup EVERYTHING off your machine before you pass it on.