Tech gifts are among the easiest to buy — and the most appreciated. The only trouble is finding the perfect one, but never fear: Use the ideas here to match your expertise and budget with the wants or needs of those on your gift list.
eBook Reader
eBooks have matured. And thanks to Amazon’s new Kindle, e-readers have as well. For the book lover on your gift-giving list, there’s never been a better time to introduce the wide world of e-books.
The Kindle come in two affordable flavors — a 139 dollar version that offers downloading of books via any Wi-Fi hotspot or a 189 dollar version that tacks on 3G connectivity. The less expensive version is probably sufficient for most. With either model, literally hundreds of books can be stored on the Kindle’s internal memory before your gift recipient leaves home, so connectivity of either type is probably not critical.
If you like the idea of an eReader but want to steer clear of Amazon, try Sony’s Digital Reader, which retails for slightly more than the Kindle but reads PDF files natively, which is a boon to those who like to download free PDFs and read them immediately.
Smartphone Accessories
If there’s a smartphone or cell phone addict on your gift giving list, you’re in luck. The accessory market for these portable devices is chock full items.
Extra smartphone or cell phone batteries are always appreciated — and something that phone users rarely purchase for themselves. Car chargers, USB chargers, and additional electric chargers can come in handy as well. For device protection, think custom sleeves or special carrying cases. And for those who need or want to talk without holding the phone, look at Bluetooth headsets.
Of course, before you get any of these items, be sure you know the make and model of the phone…