Some people are easy to shop for on the holidays: the clothes horse, the bookworm, the adventurer. But there's one group of friends that's almost impossible to please: the gadget geeks. It seems they always already have the latest camera, laptop or cold-fusion laser (not to mention these tend to be a bit expensive for the average gift-giver). No problem: Our intrepid tech reviewer gives a few very cool ideas sure to please Dexter in every category.
Under $25:KingMax Super Stick ($14.95) 2 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Available at http://www.amazon.com
The KingMax Super Stick lives up to its billing as the world's thinnest flash drive. The drive's size is comparable to a stick of Trident or Orbit gum. It's essentially half the width of a USB port, so when you plug it in, only half of your computer's port is actually occupied by the flash drive. A hand strap and keychain ring are included so you don't lose this tiny gadget. Leatherman Squirt ($25) Available at http://www.amazon.com, Target, and Wal-Mart
The Squirt is a multi-tool from Leatherman. It's similar to your typical Swiss Army Knife, but it does each of the traditional functions much, much better. There are two models, the S4 and the P4. Each model has a main function: full sized-scissors for the S4 and full-sized pliers for the P4. Along with this main function, there are also tweezers, a knife, three screwdrivers, a nail file, a can opener and a ruler included in a small package. The Leatherman is made in the United States and sports a nifty lifetime warranty for heavy users.
Under $50:Foofbags ($36-$42) Available at http://www.foofshop.com
The Foofbag is for the laptop lover who wants a stylish laptop cover to protect that thousand-dollar investment. Foofbags come in a variety of artistic designs on a range of fabrics, including cotton and corduroy, ensuring a style fit for anyone. Despite the fashionable cover, the case is nicely padded with a very slick satin liner. Foofbags also offers cases for a variety of cameras and iPods.
Apple's Aluminum Keyboard ($49) Available at http://www.amazon.com, The Apple Store, Best Buy and http://www.newegg.com
This is Apple's new super-thin keyboard that resembles the MacBook's keyboard. The result is a keyboard that rises no more than half an inch off your desk. The aluminum keyboard works with both PCs and Macs and even includes two built-in USB ports for connecting your mice and peripherals.
Under $100:Creative Zen Stone Plus ($69.99) Available at Circuit City and http://www.creative.com
The Zen Stone Plus is Creative's mp3 competitor to Apple's iPod shuffle. What's different is that the Zen Stone Plus actually has a small display so you can see what song is playing or even fast forward to the song of your choice. Also, while the iPod Shuffle has only one GB of storage for $79.99, the Zen Stone Plus has two GB of storage for $10 dollars less, a great buy for people with a bigger music library. Like the Shuffle, the Stone comes in five bright colors with interchangeable covers to suit your mood.
The "Ex" ($69.99) Knife set with unique holder Available at http://www.overstock.com
This one's for the ladies who are holding a grudge on a particular guy or maybe on guys in general. This knife set contains five basic kitchen knives. It's the stand that makes this product stand out. The stand is shaped like a male stick figure, with the slots for the knifes along the stick figure's body. The resulting holder looks like a guy with knives in his head, chest, stomach and legs. Great item to spice up your boring kitchen!
Over $100:Canon SD Powershot SD1000 7.1MP Camera ($175.99) Available at all electronics retailers
Canon's low-end, no nonsense camera is priced aggressively for point-and-shoot users.It's got a high resolution, good enough for most general use and a standard 3x zoom. Most users will find that the size of this camera, as well as the ease of use, really make this camera worth buying. Be sure to pick up an SD card for extra memory with this camera. (See a previous week's review.)
Rock Band Bundle (for Xbox 360 - $169, PS3 - $169, PS2 - $159) Available at Toys 'R' Us, Best Buy, Circuit City and Gamestop
This is EA Games's rival to Red Octane's famous Guitar Hero 3. Rock Band differs from Guitar Hero mainly in the fact that Rock Band allows the user to play one of three roles in a band: guitarist, drummer and singer. It's like combining Karaoke Revolution and Guitar Hero with a drumming game. Up to four people can play at once, so you really get the feeling of forming a band. This is perfect for those who want to live out their fantasies of being a rock star. Though a bit pricey, the game includes a drum set, a guitar and a mic, along with the game itself, so the high price is justified. For Guitar Hero pros out there, don't get this game hoping to play the guitar only, since the songs are somewhat easier than those on the Guitar Hero game. Get this for the "band" aspect.
