Electronic Gifts the Holidays
| The holiday season is a month of heaven for gadget-lovers. Between Black Friday and New Year's, the major electronics manufacturers all release the items that they've been working hard on for years and years. Not only are a slew of new and long-awaited gizmos first made available, but you can also find some solid deals as the companies all try to outdo each other and make sure that their products are the ones under your tree. Prepare to be wowed by the latest and greatest technology.Portable Media PlayersThe market for portable media players (PMPs) has become gigantic as peoples' desire to listen to music, watch movies and TV shows, and share photos with friends on the go has skyrocketed in recent years. Many companies offer models of MP3 players, and you can get the most basic players for very cheap: well under $50. Even these basic models offer a good number of features, but the most expensive PMPs allow you to interact with other users on the go and access the internet, play games, or even download music right to the player over the web. These can make great gifts for the consumer looking to buy a simple or advanced product in any price range. |
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The most well-known line of media players, Apple's iPod family continues to grow. The current lineup contains four options: the iPod Shuffle |
SanDisk Sansa SanDisk, a leading maker of flash media, also is one of the most popular brands of PMP. They currently offer four Sansa MP3 players: the Clip |
Microsoft Zune Microsoft now offers three Zune lines to choose from: the slim flash-based Zune 4 |
Archos Manufacturing both MP3 players and miniature computers, Archos offers something for everyone. The Archos 2 |
Creative Creative MP3 players have gained a huge following. The company offers a staggering number of lines: the ZEN |
Video Games
Now is a better time than ever to get into this generation of gaming. Prices are low, games are coming out by the barrelful, and more and more upgrades to system capabilities are made all the time to improve your entertainment experience.
Handheld Systems
Nintendo and Sony compete in the handheld gaming arena. The Nintendo DS has been an enormous success and is by far the best-selling video game system around, but the PSP hasn't thrown in the towel, continuing to offer a good set of features for a portable device. For more on these systems, see our guide to handheld gaming.
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The most popular video game system on the market has beautiful 3D graphics and became a hit thanks to the two-screen design that gave the system its name (DS stands for "dual screen.") The bottom screen is a touch-screen, allowing for a style of interaction with games and software that had never been seen before. The DS continues to be a hot commodity thanks to its low price and huge library of hit games, including those that feature local and online wireless multiplayer. Some games even let you play against friends who don't own the game: using their DS systems, they can download the software for multiplayer matches. |
Nintendo DSi Adding even more features to the DS system, the Nintendo DSi is an even sleeker redesign of the DS system. It plays the same DS cartridges that we've all grown to know and love but adds in two cameras--one internal camera for self-portraits and and one external camera for normal shots--and photo editing software. It also has a media player, an SD memory card slot, and larger screens. The DSi can also interact with online services like Facebook and with the Nintendo Wii to upload photos via the Wii's Photo Channel, as well as download DSiWare, an ever-expanding set of original new games and software made specifically for the DSi. |
The third redesign of Sony's PlayStation portable is the lightest and thinnest yet. It still plays games from the Universal Media Disc (UMD) and has a host of other features that highlight the device's power. It can be used to play movies and music, stored either on a UMD or on a memory card, and with its web browser it can view internet pages on its widescreen display. It features graphics just below the quality of those on the PlayStation 2 and can download software from Sony's PlayStation Network, which offers movies and games that can be stored on a flash card and played back on the system. The PSP is a formidable portable system. |
Sony PSPgo A different type of PSP sold as a counterpart to the original style, the PSPgo abandons the UMD disc drive that played games and movies on its brother systems in favor of an all-downloadble design. The button layout is different, using a slide-out control system, and all software and media for the PSP are downloaded from the PlayStation Network. This content can then be stored on the device's 16GB of internal flash memory. Furthermore, most games available on UMD will be produced for the PSP to download as well, and because it features Bluetooth wireless technology, PlayStation 3 controllers can be used with the PSP. |
Home Consoles
The big three game manufacturers, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, renewed their rivalry with their seventh-generation game systems: the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The Wii is outselling its competition thanks to its low price tag and its unique motion control system, as well as being designed for both hardcore gamers and people who might otherwise be uninterested in video games. The PlayStation 3 is the most fully functional High Definition internet and media device, with its easy network media streaming and Blu-Ray player, and the Xbox 360 also offers High Definition gaming. For more on these systems, check out the guide to video game consoles.
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The Wii is the most unique game system ever produced. Its controller, the Wii Remote The Wii has wireless access to the internet on Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service. By logging on, users can play games online completely free. You can also download additional software and games through the WiiWare For more information, see the Nintendo Wii guide. |
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When Sony developed the PlayStation 3, they decided to make it the most powerful console ever produced. Using its remarkable seven-cell supercomputing processor, the PlayStation 3 produces far and away the best graphics of any console to date. It outputs in high definition formats up to Full HD 1080p and plays games The PlayStation Network To learn everything about it, read our guide to the PlayStation 3. |
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The Xbox 360 is the least expensive high definition gaming system on the market. That title is a bit deceptive, as the inexpensive models of the 360 are fairly bare-bones and you'll undoubtedly have to spend several hundred more dollars to fully equip your system, but technically there's no cheaper way to get your eyes on high definition gaming. The Xbox 360 may not have as many of the exclusive games as the Wii or PS3, and it lacks the motion controls of the former and the graphical power of the latter, but it is still a good follow-up to the original Xbox and is, of course, the only system with Halo 3 Games for the system run in 720p--not 1080p Full High Definition like some PS3 games, but 360 titles still look very good. You can also download some cool miniature arcade-style games from the Xbox Live Marketplace For more details on Microsoft's system, you'll want to take a look at the Xbox 360 guide. |
Computers
Computers are a great gift idea. The technology is always updating, and they can be fun or functional, so the perfect computer for everyone is out there somewhere. Plus, there are plenty of new models that won't cost an arm and a leg. If they already have the computer of their dreams, there are plenty of other computer-related gifts that anyone would love to have.
Laptops
Sleek, stylish, and sturdy, laptops have come a long way in terms of power and portability. You can get a model that's tiny and easy to travel with, or one with a big screen that replaces the need for a desktop. Whoever you're buying for, there's a laptop they'd love.
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A compact, inexpensive 13-inch computer, the Toshiba Satellite has nice performance for its price and long battery life. It will handle all your basic computing with power to spare, and it's a great gift for someone whose computing needs aren't sky high. If you're buying a computer for someone who loves to game, however, this might not be the best choice. |
The MacBook Air has thoroughly dazzling looks. Its lack of size does compromise its performance somewhat: the components in the Air aren't the most powerful, and it lacks basics like an optical disc drive and memory card reader. Battery life isn't great and it is quite expensive given the parts it uses, but you do pay a premium for what is far and away the thinnest laptop ever made. |
Lenovo's IdeaPad is an ergonomically well-designed machine that has good all-around performance with a good screen, nice speakers, and decent power. It's relatively thin and stylish, and it's very lightweight for a 16-inch notebook. It's loaded with features like a webcam, fingerprint reader, and HDMI output, and it's affordable, so you won't have to break the bank to get it. |
The Studio 17 offers high-end components and plenty of power, along with a big 17-inch screen, all at an incredible value. It has two headphone jacks, a full-size keyboard with numberpad, five USB ports, HDMI-out, a slot-loading disc drive, and an impressive five-hour battery life. It's a bit heavy, but for its level of performance and a price tag under $700, it's a fantastic gift option. |
With its beautiful 17-inch screen and some high-end parts, this is a great choice for Mac-lovers. A few more features would have been nice--it lacks HDMI-out or a memory card reader, and it has only three USB ports--but it has lots of raw power. Like all Macs it isn't for gamers, and even the inexpensive versions cost more than three times as much as some competitors. |
Desktops
Cheaper and more powerful than laptops, the desktop is still a great option for someone who doesn't need the portability of a laptop or who needs maximum horsepower out of their system for power-hungry apps like the latest games.
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This extremely low-priced system has good performance. Though its parts aren't top-of-the-line, it can be had for just a few hundred dollars and it's very fast for normal tasks like word processing and surfing the web. It's not ideal for 3D gaming but can run some games on lower settings. The main draw with this Compaq is the outstanding value it offers. |
Cramming a ton of power into a small-sized tower casing, the Acer Aspire has a dual-core processor, a mammoth 640GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, and an ultra-powerful 512MB Nvidia graphics card. It's fantastically low-priced for such a compact and powerful system, costing in the low hundreds of dollars, and it can even handle 3D gaming fairly capably. |
At under $800, this Gateway model is a steal, with ludicrously high-end parts. It has a quad-core Intel processor and 8GB of RAM, plus an incredible 1024MB graphics card. It comes with a remote control, HDMI-out for hooking up to a TV in high-def, and a TV tuner for watching and recording broadcasts. It's an affordable dream come true for the gamer in your life. |
Combining some of the most powerful parts available to PC makers, the HP Pavilion features its own remote control and portable hard drive bay to go with its 750GB hard drive, 6GB of memory, and 512MB graphics card, all in support of this system's crown jewel: its blazing Intel Core i7 processor. Priced at just over $1000, it's a terrific holiday bargain. |
The HP TouchSmart is an innovative all-in-one system. The components are included inside the slim but gargantuan 25.5-inch touchscreen. It has 500GB of storage and lightning-fast components for gaming and watching movies or TV through the integrated tuner. There's a webcam for video chatting and it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse. |
Other Computing Options
Buying a gift for someone who already loves their current computer but wouldn't mind some cool stuff to go with it? Don't stick them with another boring old USB drive. A new monitor or printer is something that almost anyone could use, or, if you want to give a new, even smaller type of computer this season, you can get them a snazzy new netbook.
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Just because they have a great computer doesn't mean they wouldn't love a new crystal clear monitor. This 19-inch widescreen from Acer won't empty your wallet, costing less than $150, and it provides a beautiful picture on a screen that's likely larger than what they have sitting in front of them already. |
This gorgeous 24-inch high-definition screen is perfect for the gamer or movie-lover who wants to capitalize on a powerful computing system. In addition to its sharp picture and large size for an immersive entertainment experience, this monitor has an HDMI input so it can receive the highest quality video signals. |
This inkjet printer is a great deal at just over $100. It has separate trays for normal size and precut photo-size paper and is cheap to maintain: its energy comsumption is low and it uses very little ink so you don't need to replace toner as often, keeping costs down. Printed text, images, and photos all look crisp and clear. |
A 10.1-inch netbook, this tiny system will run you about $400 and has a lot of computing power packed in its tiny shell with its Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive. It offers over 7 hours of battery life. Its big brother, the N120 |
Televisions and Home Theater
If you're looking to make a big splash this holiday season, a new big-screen TV is just the way to do it. Prices on these visual virtuosos have been coming down in recent years, so you can give your loved ones the gift of high definition for less money than ever before. Of course, if they don't need a new screen because they've got one already, you can help them make the leap from an awesome TV experience to a bona fide home theater with a full home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) or a set of home theater speakers.
LCD Televisions
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs have dropped in price and are now very affordable. LCD is one of two modern television technologies. They the offer the thinnest designs and the smoothest, brightest pictures without ugly burn-in or screen glare. For more on the technology, see our LCD Televisions guide.
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If you don't have cash to burn or the recipient doesn't have the space for a gigantic flat screen TV, you may want to opt for this slightly smaller 37-inch model from Panasonic. It has great picture quality and Full HD compatibility, plus a good variety of viewing angles. |
A 40-inch LCD with accurate colors and very deep blacks, this Samsung is a great all-around TV with plenty of HDMI connections and a silky smooth picture thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate. It also can connect to the internet or a network and display Yahoo Widgets. |
This 42-inch panel from JVC provides a great picture, and it's the most iPod-friendly television on the market. It has a dock on the front that charges an iPod and allows it to play music and display photos and videos. Plus the remote is designed to work seamlessly with the device. |
A big 47-inch TV that is completely immune to glare, LG's high-end model fits perfectly in any room. It has a 240Hz refresh rate for maximum picture smoothness and plenty of adjustments for videophiles so they can make the picture absolutely perfect. |
Sony's top-of-the-line 55-inch model is stylish and has fantastic black levels and color depth, and it's loaded with features and connections. It's an excellent choice for gaming, home theater, or any other screen use--but only if money is no object for you. |
Plasma Televisions
Plasmas are the other type of HDTV. They have the largest screen sizes and have amazing black levels for the deepest images. You can learn all about plasma in the guide to Plasma Televisions.
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Don't be fooled by this model's low price: it still provides excellent picture quality in the 42-inch size, and it has a room sensor that will adjust the TV's picture automatically based on its analysis of the room conditions. The downside is that it's only a 720p TV. |
Another inexpensive 42-inch model, this year's Panasonic offering has excellent brightness for a plasma and good, dark black levels. It produces stunningly crisp and detailed images, and it's also a very eco-friendly TV, perfect for a green-minded gift recipient. |
Full-featured and energy efficient, the 46-inch television is a winner in both performance and functionality, showcasing excellent black levels and superb shadow details, as well as access to online HD video streaming through the VieraCast service. |
It has 50 inches of viewing area, unmatched black levels, spot-on color, connections galore, a movie mode for ideal smoothness, and all the adjustability you could ask for. It's flawless in nearly every way except for its very high price. |
Samsung's plasma is just an inch and a half thick, has excellent picture quality on all fronts, and is loaded with features like internet access for widgets and media streaming. Expect to pay a hefty price for these privileges and the huge 58-inch screen. |
Home Theater
With the focus on high definition televisions, people sometimes forget about other aspects of home theater. High-def TV and movies aren't just about high-quality video signals but also booming sound, so a home theater system can be a great gift as a complement to someone's high definition screen (you can learn more in our guide to Home Theater Systems). If you're looking for something a little less expensive, there are universal remotes which are cool gadgets in their own rights and can really help get all the different pieces of technology in a room working together perfectly. Finally, don't forget about the new Blu-Ray players, the only devices that will let you play high-definition movie discs and a great option for getting the most out of a snazzy new Full HD screen.
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The Sony model is an inexpensive home theater system but it does the basics very well. It has good quality bass and its sound production is absolutely outstanding. It's a 5.1-channel system that's not too feature-heavy, but it does have a dock for your iPod and an MP3 minijack for hooking up other types of portable media devices. |
This Onkyo offers unparalleled performance with clear sound and powerful bass despite a price similar to that of midrange systems. Its feature set, including auto-calibration, ample connections, an iPod dock and SIRIUS satellite radio compatibility make it a great deal for a top-notch 7.1-channel system. |
A universal control with a vibrant 2-inch color screen and backlit keys, the selling points of the URC model are its easy programmability (not requiring attachment to a PC, like with most remotes), wide array of compatibility with all your electronics, and, best of all, its very reasonable price tag: it can be had for less than $100. |
Logitech's thin, sleek touchscreen universal remote has every feature imaginable and loads of style, plus customizable icons on its big, gorgeous screen, like controller buttons on game systems. It recharges with the included dock. For a traditionally shaped alternative, check out the equally stellar Harmony One |
This Blu-Ray player offers extraordinary performance for a very ordinary price. It costs as much as an average system but has unbeatable picture quality for both DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, as well as video and photo streaming from YouTube, Picasa, and Amazon. It's BD-Live ready so you'll be able to access online expansion content for your Blu-Ray discs. |
GPS
One of the most popular gifts in recent years has been the Global Positioning System, or GPS. These handy devices come out with new models every year, and if you don't need the most features out of them, they can be fairly inexpensive but still very useful. They come in a variety of styles: a handheld GPS is great for hikers, while a car-mountable GPS is a good choice for road trippers. To become an expert, the GPS guide is a great place to start, but here are a few choices anyone would love to receive.
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Garmin Oregon Garmin's high-end handheld line includes the 200 |
Very small and portable and providing great performance at a terrific value, the TomTom One is a no-frills GPS that will get you where you want to go easily and without complications. In a first for this year's entry-level TomTom lines, it offers lane assist and reality view, which traditionally were only higher-end TomTom features, all for a little less than $150. |
Basic but expertly designed, the $160 Roadmate shines with a big, crisp 4.4-inch widescreen and a polished, shortcut-friendly interface that resembles the most expensive GPS models. It has millions of points of interest (like gas stations and restaurants) and is very fast and fluid. It can receive traffic with no subscription fee if you purchase the receiver. |
With a cellular modem, this TomTom is a powerhouse that can perform Google searches and get live traffic, weather, and gas prices for a monthly internet fee. It has a slick operating system that features iPod playback, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and photo viewing on the big 4.4-inch screen, along with the great features found on all TomToms like reality view and lane assist. |
Another expensive GPS, Garmin's flagship model can connect to MSN for weather, gas prices, flight times, and local events in the area. It also has a photo viewer, MP3 player, games, Bluetooth and many other features that can be accessed on its 4.4-inch widescreen. It has a real view function and all the great GPS performance you would expect from a Garmin. |
Cell Phones and Smartphones
A shiny new phone can be a great gift idea, as the technology updates often and there are lots of new models and features to choose from. There is also a great range of prices, so you can probably find something to fit your budget. Be careful, however: if you plan on buying a new phone, you'll need to check on a few things.
First, find out who their cellular service provider is. If they're in the middle of a contract, you'll need to get them a phone that won't break that contract or start up a new contract with a different provider. They won't be as thankful for the gift if it comes with a 2-year deal with a second service provider or a $300 breach-of-contract fee for their existing service. Second, check into the additional prices of the new phone. For example, if you're getting an iPhone for someone and you think you're safe because they already have AT&T, keep in mind that there is an expensive monthly data plan that AT&T requires you to buy. Lastly, not every cell phone is compatible with every cell phone network, so if you get them something incompatible with their carrier, they might not be able to use it. Think about getting an unlocked phone that will work with any carrier.
This just scratches the surface, so make sure you take a look at the guides to cell phones and smartphones.
Digital Cameras and Camcorders
Some of the quintessential electronics gifts, cameras and camcorders have always been popular choices around the holiday season, as they are practical gifts that can be taken out of the box and used right away to record all the memories you'll create with the whole family around. Cameras and camcorders have become amazingly small, powerful, and inexpensive over the last few years, and the presence of sites like Facebook, which allow you to post videos and photos of your friends, have added to their popularity.
Cameras
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn't absolutely love a new camera. Whether they're an aspiring photographer or simply love to take photos and share them with friends, they'll have a blast with one of these shiny new digital cameras. For more, visit our guide to digital cameras.
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The Pentax is a fantastic stocking-stuffer. It's around $100 and is a well-built 10.1-megapixel camera that's a snap to use (pun very much intended). It's a very basic camera and doesn't have any of the professional-caliber image tweaks that you can make on higher-end models, but for what it does, taking pictures quickly and simply, it provides an excellent value in a stylish, compact design. |
Coming in six colors: dark gray, silver, pink, blue, orange, and green (above), this tiny camera is less than an inch thick and offers a great basic feature set. It's a very intuitive and easy-to-use camera with great picture quality thanks to its 10-megapixel camera, and the 2.5-inch LCD on the back is very pleasant to look at. It's also not too expensive, running around $180. |
An unbeatable mix of style, features and affordability for $200, you can pick from black, silver, bronze, and blue (pictured) for this 12.1-megapixel wonder. Photos shoot quickly and look superb, it's thinner than an inch, and it has a 3-inch LCD, an easy mode for basic shooting, and loads of adjustments for advanced users. Its high-end 5x zoom wide-angle lens is even able to shoot beautiful high definition video. |
Coming in at a little more than $300, the FinePix is a powerful ultracompact camera with a 3-inch LCD and a high-end light sensor that will adjust the picture for top-notch quality. It runs smooth and fast and pictures will look great, plus you have all the expected picture tweaks for making your pictures shine. It's a very impressive piece of tech for its size, and it would undoubtedly be a much-appreciated gift. |
A digital SLR camera for professionals and major photo buffs, the Sony is a tremendous value. Priced around $550, the Sony costs half as much as other entry-level SLRs but has plenty of features, like dual card slots and a lightning-fast autofocus, and it handles very well for a relatively small SLR camera. It's easy to use even if you're not a master photographer, but it doesn't skimp on power. |
Camcorders
Camcorders have become another popular option for documenting the important (and sometimes not-so-important) events in our lives. Even larger models are now very compact, and they make tiny models that fit easily in a pocket but shoot high definition video. For all you could ever want to know about camcorders, see our camcorders guide.
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A pocket camcorder available in black, raspberry red and aqua blue (above), the Kodak Zi8 has loads of features and powerful performance in any environment, shooting crisp 1080p video. It also takes capable still shots with its 5-megapixel camera. It's slim, stylish, and (best of all) it will only set you back $180. |
The Flip UltraHD is another pocket-size camcorder. Coming in at about $200 and available in black and white, the YouTube-friendly model shoots high definition video in 720p and the performance is outstanding. People watching your videos will never believe that such high-quality images were shot using such a portable, sleek-looking device. |
A $200 standard-definition camcorder with stellar picture quality, the JVC is a nice low-priced unit. It doesn't shoot high def, but that shouldn't be a concern unless you own or plan to buy an HDTV. It comes in black, blue, and the pictured red and has a small, comfortable design for easy point-and-shoot video taping. |
Sony's basic high-definition Handycam is one of the more affordable HD units around: you snag it for $500. It's very compact, especially for a high definition camcorder, and it looks very slick in black, red, or silver. It's got loads of connections and it quickly transfers high definition video to your computer or a disc. |
Canon's powerful high definition camcorder shoots fantastic-looking videos and has a long list of features. It's a fairly small-sized device with an attractive appearance, and despite its small stature it manages to shoot extremely sharp video with beautiful color saturation, and the microphone records audio quite well too. |
Digital Picture Frames and Photo Printers
As an inexpensive alternative to a brand new camera or camcorder or a cool new gadget to display all the great photos you've taken, try a digital picture frame. Some of the best run under $100 and many serve multiple functions, like playing back videos and music with slideshows as well. A more traditional accessory to a camera is a brand new photo printer. These tiny, portable devices create professional-looking prints to showcase your photographic talent and create physical productions that you can share with your loved ones.
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Pandigital's $70 model has a high-resolution 6.9-inch screen and excellent picture quality. It has a remote control, 1GB of internal memory, and a memory card slot. It can play MP3 files through its single speaker so it's great for videos and slideshows. If you purchase the optional Wi-Fi adapter, the frame can wirelessly lift photos from your computer or from photo-sharing websites like Picasa. |
Digital Spectrum Memory Frame 801 Featuring a stunning 8.5-inch screen, remote, and the ability to be inserted into any 8"x10" picture frame to match your room, the $80 Digital Spectrum is a fantastic replacement for conventional frames. Quality is lifelike and it can play videos and music for slideshows. It has 512MB of storage and a memory card slot for more. |
This top-of-the-line 7-inch widescreen LCD resembles a tiny computer monitor and delivers excellent image quality with very modern styling. It has 512 MB of storage space and the screen is non-reflective to avoid glare. It has built-in Wi-Fi for exchanging photos with your computer or websites like Flickr and Picasa, and you can control slideshows with the included miniature remote control. |
Canon's inexpensive photo printer is a dye-sublimation model that delivers good-looking water-resistant prints. It's small, portable, and ink-efficient, and it has a 2.5-inch LCD for previewing photos. Purchasing an optional adapter will allow you to print directly from bluetooth-enabled devices like cell phones. The best thing about the Canon is its phenomenal price: $100. |
A steal at under $150, Epson's inkjet is powerful and fast, cranking out ink-efficient 4"x6" photos in under 40 seconds. You can preview or edit images on the 3.6-inch LCD and it has a carrying handle so you can print photos while you're out and about. Epson's Zoom PM290 |
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