Top Tech Gifts for 2011 Graduates
If you're buying a graduation gift this year, you can easily go crazy from all of the choices and possible gift ideas. The first thing you should do is find out (if you can) what the graduate would like, or at the very least, what he or she already owns so that you don't buy something they have.Gift ideas will vary by the individual, but below is a general breakdown of some solid tech gift ideas for graduates.• Tablet PCApple's iPad took the world by storm, and its popularity generated a lot of competition in the tablet PC market. Many young professionals are gravitating toward the tablet PCs, and if the price tag is not out of your range, one of these mini-computers would make a great gift for a graduate.TheiPad 2is currently available for sale, starting at $499. It features two cameras, a high-speed processor, and it's much thinner and lighter than the original iPad. For an alternative to the iPad, other popular tablets include theBlackBerry PlayBook, theMotorola Xoom, and theSamsung Galaxy Tab.• Bluetooth headsetWith many states adopting new hands-free cell phone driving laws, a Bluetooth headset is a great gift for anyone who doesn't already have one. Bluetooth headsets are compatible with any Bluetooth-capable phone, so you don't have to worry about getting the right headset for the graduate's phone. There are many different Bluetooth headsets for sale with many different features, but Plantronics is a good company to go with, andnewegg.comhas a wide selection of Plantronics headsets. A decent Bluetooth headset can usually be purchased for about $30 or $40, but headsets with more features often sell for much more.• 3D TVFor a higher-end graduation gift, 3D television sets are among the more talked-about tech products this year. There's no set 3D standard, so technology among the different 3D TVs varies (as does the quality).Samsung,Sony, andPanasonicare all well-known companies that make 3D TVs.• eReadereReaders have gained popularity in recent years. With the advent of e-ink and e-paper technology, more people are choosing to read books electronically.NookandKindleare the two leaders in the eReader field, each with their own strengths. The Nook starts at $149, and the Kindle starts at $139 (with a special offer version available for $114).
