Why special?
Because I could have never afford such a phone (even now I can’t upgrade that 4-year old phone!)

Share?
I’ll be willing to share it with needy students at my Uni.

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/carrotmadman6/status/1053358279

The Pic of my 5-year old PC:
http://flickr.com/photos/23512070@N08/3101829919/

2. What made the gift special?
There is nothing like the feeling you get by giving an unexpected surprise.It is the best!!!

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
There is no question that I would share it with my wife. She is the hardest working person I know and I am very lucky to have her.

Here’s my Twitter entry: http://twitter.com/santeewoody/status/1052306024

Here’s my Flickr entry:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_woodhead/3100713913/

Best of luck to all of us.

Here is my current desktop layout: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lodschmod/3100913818/ I didn’t include the tower in the picture because including the floor would have made tge photo outright scary Yaaay mess! hahaha.

Now for the questions.
1. The best gift I have ever received from someone else would have to be the graphic tablet I got from my dad. I don’t think it was given for a birthday or anything like that–I somehow acquired it from him It’s shaped so much of who I am. It got me into computer dolls, which got me into art as a more general thing–although I haven’t drawn much in the past few months, I still consider it an integral part of me. It’s made me an artist! XD But it’s also done more than that. Without that tablet, computer would have been for homework, and for internet. I think if I hadn’t gotten that tablet, I’d be yet another one of those “standard teen internet users” (yes, yes, at 19 I am still a teen, shh!) who chats lyk dis and spends her life on facebook. … ok, so maybe I do spend my life on facebook. But I also do more! I love drawing on the computer as much as on paper, and I love the community it’s associated with and the inspiration you can find online. And because I’m not a gamer, and before college I wasn’t into programming, art is what got me to be…a geek. I made my first website at 12 so I could put my little computer dolls on the web! Hehe. And if you’ll check out the lower left corner of my desktop picture, you’ll see that very same tablet, still goign strong despite being used as a table instead of a tablet XDD Intuos 2s rock! (seriously. 7 years in my hands, + who knows how many in my dad’s office before that getting use for someone’s job…).

2. What made the gift special… um… I think I already answered that. Sorry, hope combined answers are acceptable

3. Well, I guess I’d have to send off one of the laptops to my sister, who has apparently been whining about wanting one I also am quite pleased with my desktop right now (I’m so in this just for the mini and for a high-qual laptop, haha), so I’d probably give it away to someone in my family–a studio only needs so many desktop computers! haha!

Thanks for the many contests, gear diary. I love winning your stuff

(but man! how hard must it be having all that and knowing you can’t even try to win it! sigh! I feel bad for you guys.)

1. Me winning a Philips 755 touch-screen phone from a newspaper.
2. It was special because…. it was my first phone. My father had told me to enter it and so I entered it on his advice. It was one of the best, and one of my first gifts. I value it more then any of the phone in the market.
3. I would share it with my family and close friends. The HP Mini 1000 would goto my Father for being all through with me. He always wanted to use a lappy in his life. The HP HDX 18 would goto my friends Chanyao and Anuj for being there always with me. The printer would be shared among all my friends. The HP Touchsmart would be used by me as you will soon see I don’t have a very nice PC. The other laptop would goto my sister for always being for me and it could be a nice birthday gift for her (Her birthday is on December 12).

I know my entry is not a sobby entry like other entries. But I hope I win.

Twitter proof: http://twitter.com/hiyoguys/status/1051195151
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33273180@N04/3100711528/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(2) what made it special: it was my first car–and a graduation gift from my parents!

(3) who would I share this gift with: my parents (mom and dad)–of course!

My twitter:
http://twitter.com/philchen/

My laptop:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23027823@N00/2967734876/

2. What made the gift special?
The fact that my husband knew exactly what picture to choose. The fact that he went out of his way to get it laminated and not just put in any old frame. The fact that, 3 years later, I can be immediately transported to that exact point in time with just a glance up at that picture. It’s truly a special moment frozen in time… one I’ll never forget. My husband knew how much I would appreciate having a constant visual reminder of that amazing newborn phase that has just whizzed by.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
This is SUCH an awesome question… Really makes me search my heart. In fact, I would request you to be part of the ‘nomination committee.’ I will donate to groups nearest and dearest to my heart: needy homeschooling families, budding entrepreneurs who need a little support, and young photography enthusiasts.

Here’s my Twitter entry: http://twitter.com/cfavreau/statuses/1050743256

Here’s my Flickr entry: http://flickr.com/photos/coffeecriss/3099042373/

While I certainly hope to win, I wish everyone the best of luck. It will be put to good use no matter who wins!

2. What made the gift special?
Besides the obvious, I knew he could not afford anything and I had told him, in the past that I didn’t want a solitaire, as I was in nursing school and was afraid to tear my gloves. So, he did good. He proposed after spending several days with my family as we all dealt with the loss of my youngest sister. He saw my entire family at our absolute worst and didn’t flinch as he put on my ring, nor has he in the 15 years since.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
I have a girlfriend with 2 autistic children. Even though they are young, they really need to have their own computer. So I would give one to mom and let her computer become one of the boys. I may give the netbook to her husband so they don’t have to share everything. My husband and I are wireless gadget freaks, we would probably keep the printer. One of the computers will replace the computer I use to run the media at church. I do this for free and anything to make it easier would be wonderful. The computer I use there now barely meets the standards of the software the church bought for music lyrics and Bible verse projections; so it tends to freeze up when videos are played. As for the rest of the stuff, we will probably keep and give our laptops away.

Twitter is done. USER: jleeco
and you can find my pic on Flicker; http://www.flickr.com/welcome/32795792/651869/

This is going to be great. So many entries for you to go through. I hope you have fun reading them all!!

2 what made it special? majority of what made it special was the tought my nextdoor neighbor came over some time after i moved in and found out i had no bed and he knew i was not able to afford it at the time and went and got it the next day and i will never forget that.

I would gladly share 3 of the laptops to computerswithcauses a charity that will donate a to someone in need of a computer

a laptop and the printer to the Salavation army here they will be giving out gifts to the needy on christmas

and i would give the last computer to someone around the world that needs it

http://twitter.com/plant302/status/1050441866

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33318666@N08/3099851800/

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/shinimario/31935edc8cc7.jpg

Michael Chen

2. What made the gift special? Being able to someone to share your life with is a tremendous feeling. One very difficult to describe. My wife played an incredible role through it all.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win? Well, of course both girls would want to take something back to school with them. But I am leaning toward a donation for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. They have built about 10 houses in the area and are always short of resources to track expenses and family contributions.

My twitter post: https://twitter.com/btmlinesoft

My Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/btmlinesoft/

Happy Holidays to all.

TheBottomline

Now, for this giveaway… I’m very excited to bring joy to multiple people’s lives for the holiday this year. I would keep one of the laptops for myself to use for my Virtual Assistant business as my current one has a severely cracked screen and will soon be unusable! Every penny right now goes to paying bills so I can’t fix it right now. My computer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51691381@N00/3099788442/

My computer with me in it (sorry for the poor one here – taken with camera phone): http://www.flickr.com/photos/51691381@N00/3099801330/

The other computers I am super excited to give away! As I pondered who they would go to, it came to me that it would make sense to give them to aspiring Virtual Assistants – especially those who are financially struggling and can’t afford to buy the computer that is so integral to this type of work. To choose these people, I will reach out to the VA organizations I volunteer for and ask for nominations. I will give the computers to aspiring VAs (small business owners) who volunteer for these professional organizations selflessly and give of themselves without expectation of reward or thanks. I have met so many Virtual Assistants who have awesome potential and are doing everything right to grow their business – they just don’t have adequate tools to get them to the ultimate level they are capable of. Making a small difference in several people’s lives would be such a great Christmas present to myself. When you give, you get in so many intangible ways! Many thanks to HP and all the bloggers for being so generous!

Twitter post: http://twitter.com/copong/status/1050688636

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
This prize package is substantial – when I read the list of everything it included, I almost want to say YOU get a laptop and YOU get a laptop and YOU get a laptop… but um. I’m not Oprah, so my wishlist for giving is as follows:
One laptop for my folks. Their machine is junk – virus ridden, slow, horrible. They deserve better. It would be nice, for once, to do something for them.
One laptop (as well as the printer and video software) for the satellite office in the small town where I live of my foster family agency. When I was in continuing ed training, I noticed the computer in front was running Windows ME. Who runs ME? They do. They do Important Work. They need better equipment, but they’re non-profit… and a sagging (dragging half-dead) economy only means they have at least, if not more workload.
One laptop each for my soon-to-be adopted daughter’s brother and sister. They’re each in a separate foster home in long term foster care. Without sharing too much of their story – they are forgotten children that need consistent love and support. Regardless of the equipment, my husband and I are striving to create the backbone of a long-lasting relationship between our daughter and the both of them. They’re teenagers who have been bumped around from group homes to foster homes. Access to computers for schoolwork is inconsistent, and how great would it be for them to have the tools that belong to them to work toward getting ahead. They’re both bright and forward-thinking. They just lack consistent structure, support, and respect as individuals.

4. Twitter link: http://twitter.com/christinamira/status/1050707266

5. Current desktop: http://flickr.com/photos/kitschytina/3099813038/

Thanks for the opportunity to win.

2. What made the gift special?
While everyone else forgot that it was my birthday, my best friend had not. He even got me a present, making me forever remember that day.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
I would most definitely share the computers with my family (brother, father and mother) and I would give the printer to my neighbour; my childhood friend, and I would give the Corel program to his grandfather who loves to shoot videos of friends and family; I am sure he would love to edit them personally.

Twitter post: https://twitter.com/Jcoaster2008/status/1038160073
Flickr Picture: http://flickr.com/photos/31053505@N05/3081676065/

2. What made the gift special?
It was my last birthday celebration unless someone is willing to celebrate my birthday in future ones.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
I would share to anyone who haven’t has a person that celebrated their birthday in the past years. I would also share to people around the world were poverty affects them. Many of those people have no education. I hope these gifts will help them learn and bring entertainment to their lives. Give them a little magic into them and bring a smile out of them.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/shinimario/status/1050697586

Desktop Image:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/shinimario/9bfd68981ec9.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/shinimario/763c8b1e0361.jpg

Good luck to all who enter this contest and do a good deed to others.

Michael Chen

When I was about to enter college in 1988, friends of my family bought me a 2400 baud modem.

2. What made the gift special?

Besides the fact it was the fastest telecommunications device that most people could get their hands on, these family friends were already in their mid-sixties. They didn’t know what the modem did – just that in my hands it would let me further/better explore my potential. I’ve never forgotten what they’ve done for me.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?

If I won, I would give my wife the TouchSmart (she’s never had a new PC), give one of the notebooks to my friend Tim (he helped me get my new job and he’s looking for a new PC), I would keep one of the notebooks and the AIO for myself to better address my projects, then refurbish and donate most of my old equipment (~ 6 desktops/laptops and 2 AIO’s).

Next, complete the following tasks and include a link to the completion’s proof in your comment / entry.

- Twitter the following and include a link proving that you did it:
“I promise that I will make a difference in someone’s life if I win: http://tinyurl.com/6j2yml”

Done: http://twitter.com/SpencerAR/status/1050614580

- Post a picture of your current desktop or laptop on Flickr (or your personal blog), and include a link back to that picture in your comment / entry. You do not need to be in the photo, but I’ll be even more impressed with your entry if you are.

Done: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55701889@N00/3099703382/

Thanks,

Spencer

2. What made the gift special?
What made it special was that I leaned so much from such simple tips and it has enabled me to cook the best food for my friends and family. My girlfriend Simone was able to come with me and we met some really cool people and had a great time.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?
I would definitely have to share a portion of this prize with my technophobic parents. I think they would find the HP touchsmart computer to be extremely easy to use and would bridge several technology hurdles they experience when using computers. The user interface and the way you interact with the PC is simply revolutionary, and I think they’d find it that way too.

My Twitter: http://twitter.com/skooler

My Flickr Post: http://flickr.com/photos/skooler/3098839347/

http://tinawatson.googlepages.com/momsdesktop.jpg

a) Best gift I ever received – Photo album from my daughter that covered every year of my kids lives (20 years).
b) It was special because of the effort that she put into it, the memories, and the personal touch. It was a ‘this is your life’ type of book, and it made me cry.
c) I would keep a laptop, give a computer to each of my kids, and donate the software to my public library. Most of the equipment would be given away.

I would say a dollhouse I got from my grandmother when I was six years old. It’s huge…I still have it, it’s one of my keepsakes…really unique.

2. What made the gift special? Well it is like 3ft tall and 4ft wide…so it stands out of course…but I dunno, I just remember how special that Christmas was for me. Everytime I look at it, it reminds me of that time.

3. Who would you share a portion of this prize package with, if you were to win?

Well I want the gaming laptop for myself. But as for the other prizes. I’d give the other laptop to my sister who just recently asked me to buy her a computer. Her son (my nephew) who is 5 would of course get the Kung Fu Panda. My best friend (who was laid off) who has been talking about having a netbook for the better part of a year would get the Mini along with the printer and cartridge, be a nice gift for her. My mother who has a Compaq from I want to say eight years ago…with the specs of: 10GB HD, 64MB RAM, basically the computer’s only function is to gather dust at this point because it is SO SLOW! she would of course get the desktop with the cool touch screen…quite a leap for her. I guess I’d keep the media center cause I dunno who else I’d give that to who would know how to use it. I already have MSOffice2007 on my computer, so I’d simply install it on my mom’s new desktop, my sister’s new laptop and my best friend’s new netbook, for them.

Here is a link to my tweet: http://twitter.com/missmalevolent/status/1050581187

And here is a link to my current rig: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33252241@N03/3098843767/

The best gift I ever received was a sweatshirt my aunt gave me last year, I wear it everyday!

(b) what made it special and

It was special because of how much I use it, I didn’t expect it but its become part of my life.

(c) who would you share this gift with

I would share this with a lot of people, i’d figure out who needs it most among people I know.

https://twitter.com/johndatserakis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndatserakis/3099632018/