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Electronics Gifts Buying Guide

So you want the perfect tech gift for the guy or girl who has (or at least wants) every cool gadget that comes out? You have plenty to think about!  The electronics market is huge and you can find gifts for all sorts of budgets, whether you're willing to spend ten bucks or ten thousand.

Consider the Following

• How much do you have to spend? This is probably the biggest limiting factor in any type of gift-buying, but particularly for electronics, where the range of prices is so varied. Once you narrow down your range of prices and decide the type of gift to buy, remember that different brands and different models of the gifts will cost more or less depending on their bells and whistles, as well as the warranty.
• What does this person like? Our guide for How to Buy Gifts is a great place to start, but in general, try to coordinate a gift with that person's interests. There are electronics for everyone. They even make cool gadgets for the most non-tech-sounding people: if someone loves the great outdoors and getting away from civilization, they still might love to have a GPS  or fish finder,  which come in both mountable and hand-held versions.
• How much does this person like to spend on gifts? If you get lost in the extravagance of the latest and greatest gadgets, prices can get pretty high pretty fast. If money is no object for you, that's one thing, but some people would feel very embarrassed or guilty if they receive a gift much nicer than the one they can afford to buy you. Then again, some people love to feel like they're being spoiled. 
• Try to get a gift that is as utilitarian as your recipient. If you hear them talk about what the function of something is when they window shop, they might be looking for more practical gifts. If they're blown away by how cool something looks in a store, you can probably get them something flashy.

What Separates Gadgets from Other Electronics?

Gadgets are smaller, less vital and often farther ahead of the curve than other electronics. For instance, a video game console (though cool!) is not a gadget, but a cell phone wristwatch  is. Patterns seem to indicate that something is a gadget if it:

• Has an LED. 
• Can take a memory card. 
• Plays music  where you wouldn't expect any.
• Is completely silent. 
• Has a motor. 
• Has sensors. 
• Looks like silver or steel. 
• Is travel-sized. 
• Runs off a USB port  so you never have to leave your computer.

What Are the Fun Gadgets?

LED Flashlights, Key Finder Systems, Robot Toys, Clocks...

The Sound of Music CD Changers Noise-Canceling Headphones iPod Speakers MP3 Players	Take a Look Digital Cameras Digital Picture Frames Portable DVD Players LCD Televisions	Hold Me Electronic Dictionaries and Translators GPS Devices Smartphones Handheld Gaming Systems	For the Body Personal Cooling Systems Personal Trimmers  Handheld Massagers	More Cool Toys LED Flashlights  Key Finder Systems  Robots  USB Flash Drives

Related Gift Guides

• Gifts for Mr. Gadget
• Gift Guide for Nerds