It’s Christmas again. We have 6 weeks more or less to get find the perfect gifts for the ones we love
(and the in-laws). Of course what will actually happen is you’ll do nothing untill December 20th and then, if you’re anything like me, you’ll race out to stores you know the jingles for (Farmers, Whitcouls, Briscoes, et al) to buy DVDs, books, vouchers, magazine subscriptions, perfume, bathrobes… Yawn.

Here are some practical gadget gift ideas that, providing the recipients haven’t beat you to the punch and bought for themselves, should be sure to please.  As a bonus you can purchase them all online. Easy peasy.

It’s Christmas again. We have 6 weeks more or less to get find the perfect gifts for the ones we love
(and the in-laws). Of course what will actually happen is you’ll do nothing untill December 20th and then, if you’re anything like me, you’ll race out to stores you know the jingles for (Farmers, Whitcouls, Briscoes, et al) to buy DVDs, books, vouchers, magazine subscriptions, perfume, bathrobes… Yawn.

Here are some practical gadget gift ideas that, providing the recipients haven’t beat you to the punch and bought for themselves, should be sure to please.  As a bonus you can purchase them all online. Easy peasy.

1.iPhone/iPod docking and charging station.
Even if you don’t personally own an iPhone or iPod, I’m willing to bet someone you care about does. Apple being how they are sell the chargers seperately for some ridiculous figure like $60, because of this most people I know choose to charge their iPods on their computer, which isn’t always convenient. Given the cost though if you’re going to buy a charger, you might as well get a docking station that can play the music too. Some, like this one, have the added bonus of acting as an alarm clock (with the ability to set dual alarms) and have hands free capability for iPhones.  Whoop!
http://www.consumer.philips.com/c/audio-system/dc350_12/prd/en/hk/

2.Nintendo Wii console
This is one gaming console that everyone in the family can have fun with. It is a much more interactive experience than Playstation or Xbox because you play the games standing up using the Wii remote to mimic the action of whatever you happen to be doing (ten-pin bowling, golf, tennis etc). There are more traditional games too – if you are an Eighties child like me you can even relive your Sega youth with Sonic the hedghog! The best reason to own a Wii though has to be Wii Fit – gym memberships are so last century. At almost $500 though I admit this one might be best as a joint gift for the whole family.
http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Nintendo-Wii/Nintendo-Wii-Console–Wii-Sports/1520470/

3.GPS
For anyone who drives.  These systems can be pricey but as per the Nintendo you can always team up with a sibling or partner to purchase as a joint gift. Two birds, one stone.
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/266352/navman_s150

4.Webcam
If you don’t skype, you should. It is ridiculously easy, convenient, cheap – and it’s infinitely more satisfying to see the person in front of you when you’re talking to them. You can purchase webcams for next to nothing  but of course it makes a difference what sort of webcam you use (well, to the person at the other end it does). Here is one of the latest offerings from Microsoft that offers a widescreen view and HD image quality. If you’re smart you’ll give it to the person you speak to most on Skype and in the end it is you who will benefit!
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/aug09/08-20cinemapr.mspx

5. External hard drive
This might seem like the techy equivalent of receiving socks for Christmas (160 GB of storage? You shouldn’t have!) but it’s definitely on my Christmas wish list. With the amount of photos, videos, and music on my computer I need plenty of backup storage and I need it to be easy to transport. My old bulky external hard drive has a plug as well as a USB port and I need a large satchel to take it anywhere! The latest passport sized hard drives run on a USB port only and can literally fit in to your suit pocket. They also transfer files quickly and easily and come in a variety of different wool blends, I mean colours.
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=700

6. Colour photo printer
I’m going to take a punt and say that anyone who has owned a digital camera for more than a few years is going to have literally thousands of photos stored away in barely ever opened folders. I think I have at least 5000 on my own desktop (see why I need a new hard drive?). I am not suggesting anyone should print out 5000 photos but surely there are a few gems worth putting in a good old fashioned photo frame (personally I find the digital photoframes available now extremely tacky). Colour photo printers these days are very inexpensive  and produce high quality prints at the press of a button.
http://www1.canon.co.nz/pixma/

7.  I was going to put an E-Reader on the list as I really really want one but I am waiting till either Kindle allow NZ Kindles to have wireless access to Amazon’s online store, or till someone puts out a new E-Reader that supports all formats and is so ultimately usable and well designed that it becomes the E-reader’s iPod equivalent. There have actually been rumours that Apple might be putting one out soon. Although the other thing I’m waiting for is the price to come down and I doubt that affordability is going to be the top of Apple’s features list.  So, for me at least, this one will keep for the 2010 Christmas wish list. Only 400 and something sleeps…