 It's that time of year again! Time to do your best to find just the right gift for your friends, family, and that random person picked out of a hat down at the office.
High tech gifts have traditionally been a difficult area to explore for a variety of reasons. Price has always been a factor, but concerns about compatibility and contractual restrictions could also drive people away from giving geeky gifts. Things have changed, and perhaps you could check a few names off of your list by considering some high tech gift ideas.
 Mobile Phones
In the past, I would have said that a mobile phone was only a good gift for someone if you were personally responsible for paying their monthly bill. Contractual restrictions used to have people locked into a certain phone, and you generally had to buy it from an authorized agent of your service provider. Today it is quite possible to change phones while maintaining your same basic plan, and there are more than enough phones out there to consider.
Maybe someone on your list has been anchored to the same sad phone for too long and really needs to get with the times. Maybe you know someone who used to just wants a basic unit, but now they would like to take advantage of more features like text messaging, e-mail, GPS, or taking pictures. Or maybe you know someone who is a real butter fingers and they could use a phone that isn't being held together by duct tape.
There are plenty of good reasons to give the gift of an upgraded mobile phone, and considering the new and refurbished options available, the price does not have to be prohibitive.
 Portable Media Players
Portable media players come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and capabilities; and you don't need to break the bank to get one that does a little bit of everything. Units with good sized touchscreen displays that offer plenty of storage for movies, music, and pictures can be had for well under $100, some for under $25.
While the iPod may be the name that people think of when considering such a device, there are plenty of other options out there. Not that there is anything wrong with iPods, but some other brands do the same things, and perhaps even more. In addition to playing digital movie and music files, you can find units with features  like digital cameras, FM tuners, Bluetooth audio, and voice recorders.
Portable media players could be a good gift for people of all ages. While teens and young adults may seem like the target market, I have noticed younger children and older adults expressing more interest in these devices. Getting a younger child one isn't a bad idea, as it may spare you from listening to "Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me" for the one thousandth time, and perhaps the same justification could be made for giving an older adult one, too.
Console Game Accessories
The concurrent success of the Microsoft XBox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and the Nintendo Wii have taken the popularity of console gaming systems to a new high. It seems like just about everyone has at least one of these systems, if not more. They are a great source of enjoyment for individuals, and for many they are also a source of family/group entertainment.
 One of the problems is that while you could have four people play at once, the system probably only came with a single controller. In order to get everyone in the game at once, you're going to need more controllers. Why not give that friend of yours with a Wii another controller so you can show him that you certainly can beat him at boxing?
There seems to be an endless list of accessories available for console gaming systems, and not all of them are all about letting more people play. There are specialty controllers for driving and shooting games, headphones for in-game communications, musical instruments for rockin' and rollin', and even covers and cases to personalize the appearance of the consoles. The prices on console gaming gifts cover a wide range, too, and there has to be at least a handful of items to fit just about any budget.
 Bluetooth Headsets
Bluetooth headsets used to just be a good idea, but now they are just about mandatory. Despite laws being passed to restrict the use of mobile phones while driving, it seems that there are still plenty of people on the road that just don't get it. Even if the recipient doesn't appreciate a bluetooth headset as a gift, it is the thought that counts, and all the people in traffic around them will probably appreciate it.
In addition to offering convenient hands free communications for mobile phones, bluetooth headsets are now available that also let you enjoy the multimedia capabilities of your phone. Many smart phones can serve secondary roles as movie and music players, and a stereo bluetooth headset will handle both jobs seamlessly.
Flash Media
Flash media may not be an exciting gift, but it is very practical and could be rather useful to someone with any one of the many devices that now use it to store music, movies, photos, or applications. Whether the recipient has a device like a smart phone, portable  media player, digital camera, or gaming console, the amount of space available could be greatly increased by simply popping in a higher capacity card.
The price of flash media has dropped tremendously, making an upgrade rather economical. Right now a 16GB memory card might cost about as much as an 8GB card did just a few months ago, which might be about what a 4GB card cost not too much before that. With such ridiculously low prices, increasing storage capacity by a few hundred percent is a good way to upgrade an existing device.
There are a wide variety of flash media card formats, so it is important to make sure you buy one that is compatible with the device it is intended to be used with. Simply knowing what make and model of device should be all you need to find the right flash media upgrade.
Gift Cards for Digital Downloads
Several of the other items listed in this Tech Tip are designed for use with digital audio and video files. If the person on your list already has the device they want and plenty of storage capacity, why not give them the movies and music they want to fill it up? CDs and DVDs used to be popular gift ideas, but now you can eliminate those pesky stacks of media that clutter you desk or home office!
 Many online services offer gift cards (or gift certificates) that can be purchased in just about any denomination, so you can custom tailor the value of your gift to exactly what you wanted to spend. This works with subscription based services that work on a pay-per-download format, you
These gift cards can also be a great solution for that last minute gift, since they can be purchased online or at wide number of brick and mortar retailers. Gift cards for the iTune's store, for example, can be purchased directly on their website, but you can also find them at major department stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies.
Final Words
There really is no need to fear going high tech for your gift giving needs. If you take a look around, there are tons of great gift ideas out there that can suit a wide range of budgets and recipients. One thing is for sure, a geeky gift will be far more popular than a holiday sweater or fruit cake! |
