Love is in the air – but it’s not going to be red roses, fluffy teddy bears and chocolates that will get a tech junkie’s heart racing. Whether you’re hunting for ideas on what to get your geeky better half, or simply want to check out what you could get for yourself or add to your wish list, these six will help you out by sharing their love for gadgets.

Chris Bartolo Parnis, 29

Graphic designer

Chris Bartolo Parnis. Photos: Christina GoggiChris Bartolo Parnis. Photos: Christina Goggi

Without my gadgets my life would: Be mundane and incomplete.

What role does technology play in your life?

I completely rely on technology. One gadget I cannot stay without is my iPhone 4, which keeps everything from e-mails to reminders in check. It’s like having my own mini portable computer.

Next up are my computer set-up and headset – I’m a gamer and I love good sound. My machines always tend to be on the higher-end spec, so as to be able to live up to today’s increasingly graphics-thirsty games.

All this goes hand-in-hand with my Logitech G35 5.1 Surround (emulated) gaming headset.

When gaming, especially in a first person shooter, you always want to know where players are around you and from where they’re shooting. The headset does a great job – depending on the game, I can even tell if the other player is shooting from above or below me.

Apart from my headset, I have a Logitech Z-5500 5.1 THX Surround – when I bought this, it was one of the most powerful surround systems around. It boasts 1,000 watts at peak power and it kicks a punch when listening to music or watching a film.

What type of gadgets do you love?

I like all forms of gadgets, but I tend to go for the ones that I know will last me for a while, such as my Logitech G9X laser mouse or my Wacom Bamboo tablet. Both of them come in useful on a day-to-day basis in my job as a graphic designer.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

At the top of my list is my iPhone 4. I can’t stay without it for too long – I would be lost without it. It keeps everything in sync for me, from e-mails, group chats with friends and numbers to notes, finances, calendars and birthday reminders.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

I think it would be either an iPad or one of the Samsung Galaxy tablets – it would serve as an ideal bridge between my iPhone and laptop.

Jennifer Fenech, 26

Software developer

Jennifer FenechJennifer Fenech

Without my gadgets my life would: Lack of organisation, colour, music and inspiration.

What role does technology play in your life?

My smartphone and Google Calendar are very useful in reminding me of my daily appointments. I also use Google Documents to share a shopping list with my fiancé so that we make a joint effort to try and remember what groceries to buy.

One particular device which I could not live without is my Kindle.

I love reading and an e-reader is very practical – I can effortlessly carry my favourite books around and read from a screen which doesn’t tire my eyes out.

Another device would be my iPod, which I use pretty much everywhere – car, gym and office. Last but not least, my Canon DSLR and its lenses are the tools I use for my passion – photography.

What type of gadgets do you love?

I go for devices which are dedicated to a sole purpose. For example, I would never use my phone as an MP3 player or as a camera, or my Kindle as a tablet, unless I have no choice.

I also tend to be attracted to well-designed hardware which is ergonomic, durable and user-friendly – these qualities are very important in a gadget, especially one that I carry around all day.

With regards to software, I prefer the kind that is ready to use out of a box – I don’t like to have to modify my device to make it work as I want to.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

My Kindle. At first, I was a bit sceptical about it since I prefer reading actual books and flipping through the pages. However, the Kindle makes reading so easy and pleasant – moreover, it’s extremely lightweight.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

The Apple MacBook Air. It’s perfect to carry around, especially when travelling. It received a lot of positive feedback from my friends.

Cedric Mamo, 22

Software developer

Cedric MamoCedric Mamo

Without my gadgets my life would: Only be half as interesting.

What role does technology play in your life?

Technology plays a huge role. For starters, I never leave home without my smartphone – it fits in my pocket and enables me to do so much. Its large screen makes it suitable for watching movies and playing games. I can also write software for it and on it. I can communicate with anyone be it via voice call, text, Skype, WhatsApp, e-mail or anything. It’s also very helpful in settling some friendly disputes (instant access to Google). I can even boot an entire Linux desktop system on it.

The sky is the limit with a good smartphone. I don’t need to carry around a separate MP3 player, GPS navigation system (I’m notoriously bad with directions), radio or anything – my smartphone has it all.

I’m an impulsive buyer when it comes to gadgets and I’ll go for whatever seems cool to me at the moment

Another gadget that I use a lot is my Arduino board. It allows me to learn electronics by practising. It makes certain things easier so you can quickly build something usable.

I have used this for anything from a simple tone generator to a stroboscope, laser tripwire and even a pair of musical floppy drives. The platform enables me to learn new stuff easily.

What type of gadgets do you love?

There isn’t a specific type of gadget that I like more than others. I’m an impulsive buyer when it comes to gadgets and I’ll go for whatever seems cool to me at the moment.

My prized gadgets include my smartphone, a couple of Arduino tablets, a 250MW red laser (because lasers are cool and it’s awesome to be able to burn stuff using just a laser), a high-speed camera, a Bluetooth keyboard and head­set, and a Quadricopter which I control using my phone.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

My favourite gadget right now is the Quadricopter – mainly since I haven’t had it for very long and I’m still fiddling around with it. I like it a lot because of all the technology it packs.

It has lots of sensors to assist it in-0flight (such as stabilisation) and for control (such as using the magnetometer on the drone and your phone so that when you give the command ‘go right’, the drone goes to your right instead of its right, whichever way it’s facing). It also has an onboard 720p camera with a live stream to your phone while flying.

The Quadricopter also has a software development kit available for it, so I can write programmes for it myself (such as a new controller, since it’s controlled by an Android app). Being a software developer, I love this kind of flexibility.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

The next thing I want to buy is a flight recorder for the drone. It’s not available yet, but it was shown at CES 2013 last month. It records information from the sensors, so you can analyse a flight later.

It also has a GPS receiver, which you can use to pre-programme routes on a computer. I also have some interesting projects in mind that I can do using the GPS receiver.

Christabelle Grech, 22

Student relations executive

Without my gadgets my life would: Not be this easy.

What role does technology play in your life?

I can’t live without my smartphone and tablet – I carry them with me wherever I go, be it to read e-mails, for work and to play games.

What type of gadgets do you love?

USB-based gadgets.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

The coolest gadget I possess is my camera since I love photography.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

A Sharp Freestyle Aquos television.

Andy Mifsud, 26

Lead nurturing assistant

Andy MifsudAndy Mifsud

Without my gadgets my life would: Be boring.

What role does technology play in your life?

I’m technology-dependent. In this fast-paced life it’s very difficult to remember everything. I carry my tablet and phone with me wherever I go – I can keep my calendar appointments, to-do lists and reminders on them and so I can keep track of my day.

What type of gadgets do you love?

Every gadget is cooler than the next – I just can’t tell which type I like most.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

Definitively my Nexus tablet – it’s small, portable and through it I can check e-mails, browse the internet, play games, listen to music and watch HD movies.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

I would really like to get my hands on a portable solar charger.

Celine Caruana, 17

Student

Without my gadgets my life would be: Incomplete and I would feel a bit lost.

What role does technology play in your life?

I cannot live without technology. My gadgets have become a necessity – I would definitely feel lost without them. I pack my schoolbag with so many gadgets: my mobile for texting and calls, my iPod to listen to music on my way to school, and my tablet to play games, record lectures, take notes on (instead of carrying a heavy laptop with me to school), and write my assignments.

What type of gadgets do you love?

I love all gadgets but I go for things that make my life easier.

Out of all the gadgets you have, which one is your favourite?

My tablet – it’s something that I use every day and has become an essential part in my academic daily life. The best thing about it is that I can get in bed and write my assignments.

Any new gizmo on your wish list?

There are two things actually. Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a MacBook Air – it’s stylish, very slim and looks easy to carry. I would also like to buy a professional camera.

Christina Goggi is a web marketing content specialist and a regular blogger on various tech websites.

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