|
By Andrew Eisner |
|
 |
| Great Gadget Gifts for Under $100
|
| Unless you're part of the tiny fraction of consumers with money to burn, you're going to be watching every penny this holiday season. In case you do happen to have a few extra bucks after paying your rent and cable TV bill we put together a list of some inexpensive gift ideas for this year’s low key holiday season.
|
|
 |
Why Move the Mass? |
| A video conference with someone living far away can be a very satisfying experience and save a lot of travel expenses too. The QuickCam Pro 9000 has a CarlZeiss lens with autofocus circuitry, great low light sensitivity, and a built in microphone with echo canceling so you don’t get a lot of feedback from your speakers. The QuickCam Communicate STX web cam lacks some of the quality of the Quickcam Pro 9000 but will only cost you about $49 at moment. |
|
|
| Bluetooth Headsets |
| In many states, the law requires drivers to make cell phone calls hands-free. The cheapest and most reliable hands-free device is the old corded headset. The coolest is a Bluetooth system built into your |
 |
| car. The next best thing is a Bluetooth headset. The BlueAnt Z9i, which costs around $70 is light weight and easy to use. Plantronics Voyager 855 costs around $70 and can be used as a stereo headset. The stylish Plantronics Discovery 925 costs even less at around $65. The highly rated Aliph Jawbone II now costs around $85. |
|
|
 |
Power Strip and USB Charger |
| For $29.99, you can buy this handy power strip from Monster that provides 3 outlets and USB power for charging anything with a USB port. It could make for a good practical gift for travelers. Kensington has a similar product that sells for $24.99. |
|
|
| Blu-ray DVDs |
 |
| Blu-ray players could become affordable this year and gifting a Blu-ray DVD like Iron Man could be just the excuse needed to take the Blu-ray plunge. You can buy the two disc Iron Man set for around $25. Iron Man reviews praise the stunning transfer quality with images that leap off the screen and amazing TrueHD audio including some spectacular room-shaking LFE (low frequency effects). Dark Knight is due out on December 9th. It will come in a special Bat Pod case, will feature TrueHD lossless audio, over three hours of extras and will cost around $50. |
|
|
 |
Solar or Hand Crank Powered Radio |
| For $29.95 you can buy the techie in your life this cool radio with cellphone charger and flashlight that works off the built-in rechargeable battery, solar power, or a hand crank. The Eton FR150 is available from REI among other places |
|
|
| Digital Photo Frames |
 |
| The Matsunichi PF8e Photoblitz photo frame gets a couple of mixed reviews from users but the $56 price tag is right for an 8 inch, 800 x480 frame. The four year old Kodak EasyShare SV811, 8 inch photo frame gets generally good reviews and can be purchased for under $100 on amazon.com. The Pandigital 7.0 inch photo frame is a little smaller and lower resolution than the 8 inch frames but it gets good reviews and can be purchased on amazon.com for $90.84. |
|
|
| iPhone Power Packs |
 |
| For about $50 you can buy an iPhone case that works for both 2G and 3G phones that includes a solar charger. They claim you can charge an iPhone in 3 hours. The iPower iPhone power pack provides 3 hours of iPhone power and includes speakers. You can buy it for around $49. |
|
|
 |
Don't Forget Gift Cards |
| Any obvious option for budget-minded gift givers; a $25 or $50 gift card can buy a lot of gadgets, gadget accessories, or add-ons. An iTunes gift card could make a great gift too. |
|
|
| Retrevo for Gadget Gifts |
| Whether you’re making a budget-friendly gift buying decision this holiday season or splurging on an HDTV, Retrevo has reviews and manuals for popular products like DigitalCameras, GPS, Camcorders, HDTV, and more. |
| Also Check Out |
|
|
|
|
|
