
Looking for a “techie” holiday gift can be a bit overwhelming on the Web, with the confusing plethora of guides out there. To help you sift through them all, we’ve decided to create a “guide to the guides.” Here you’ll find our hand-picked favorite lists of the latest, funkiest and coolest gadgets, widgets and gizmos available for this holiday season.
Digital camera holiday gift Guide (About.com): This is by far the best camera gift guide I’ve seen on the Web this year. Search for the perfect camera, ranked by: price, megapixels, recipient, experience or photography interest and then find all the right accessories, too.
Gaming gear (CNET): This list is perfect for non-gamers buying systems for gamers. It ranks the 11 main gaming systems and provides a very brief summary of each, along with easy-to-understand video reviews. Here is a sample of CNET’s summary for the Nintendo Wii: “It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii’s combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.”
MP3 players (PC World): This site puts Apple’s line of personal music players into perspective by listing it among other top-ranked MP3 players. The top five, in this order, are: Creative Zen V Plus, Apple iPod Nano, Sansa Connect, iPod Touch and the YP-T9JQB Portable Media Player.
Cell phones and smartphones (CNET): Another good one from the folks over at CNET. This one follows the format of the gaming gear list mentioned above. It is simply the best holiday guide for mobile phones. The top-rated phone, according to this guide, is the Nokia N95 (North American version).
Personal tech for women on eco (popgadget): Use this list to buy your green friend some “eco-friendly” tech items this year. One example: a solar-powered Bluetooth headset.
High-tech holiday gift guide for adults (AARP): Although a year old, this guide includes many gift ideas that have easy-to-see screens and simple controls for the older crowd.
Top 10 wacky gifts under $50 (PC Magazine): This list includes a few real gems that are sure to surprise your family members or coworkers during a gift exchange. Some highlights: an MP3 player in a cassette and a USB-powered pair of warming slippers.
Gifts for celebrity fans (Yahoo!): If your friend is glued to TMZ.com, People magazine and Entertainment Tonight, check out the celebrity whish lists on Yahoo! One example: Zachary Levi and Joshua Gomez of “Chuck” suggest gadgets for holiday shoppers.
Ultimate luxuries (CNET): If you can afford to satisfy a friend or family member with ultra-pricy taste, check out this guide. One of the more affordable items on the list is a $200 Euricase that holds a ring … and an LCD screen to deliver a custom messages, photo or video.
Gift guide for the enemy (Engadget): Even if you don’t have the guts to buy these items for your least-favorite people, please read this gift guide just to have a laugh. My favorite: “Dell laptop with recalled battery – Since Big Brother won’t let you gift your enemies with real explosives, why not get them the next best thing: a Dell laptop sporting one of the recalled batteries. With so many models to choose from, you’re sure to pick one that will delight the recipient – until it goes boom. Just make sure to go into the browser and block the Dell recall page before you wrap it up!”
Very nice article, Miss. Front Page! Keep up the good work. By the way, Patrick thinks he now needs an i-phone with a wood case. Thanks a mil. hee hee.