Choosing a Christmas Gadget

Favourite Gadgets For Christmas


To choose a thoughtful Christmas gift this year, just think about what the people you`re buying for like to do in their spare time, given the chance (work-related gifts should always be avoided!). Try to buy something novel, that people wouldn`t ordinarily justify buying for themselves. Gadgets have become a really popular type of gift, as they offer something fun to play with straight away on Christmas day, and there are different things to suit everyone. A lot of gadgets can now be bought for less than you might think.

Micro remote helicopters have also proved extremely popular in the last couple of years – and not just for children - representing a flying step forward from the unreliable remote controlled cars of the past, for about £20 to £50. Golf gifts are really popular for dads, and there are gadget variations now available –for example, the `Incred-a-ball` features a remote control unit to guide the direction of the ball – perfect for a practical joke (or cheating!) for about £15.

Video Eyewear Units are great for anyone interested in electronic entertainment – DVDs, TV sports, computer games, iPod videos etc. These look like futuristic sunglasses, but actually allow equivalent of a 40-inch plus display to the wearer for about £150 to £200. Sound rocker chairs are another idea for similar purposes: these are chairs that sit on the floor (similar in style to car chairs), but feature connections for a games console or iPod. This allows the user to hear the sound via the build in speakers next to their headrest. A simple way of achieving in-depth sound, and an easy way to furnish a room, for around £50-£90.

Chocolate fountains are a fun present for about £10 to £20 for anyone who hasn`t started their Christmas slimming regime yet – but for those who have, drinks variants are available, that can be used for any type of drink. To give a `warm` gift, microwaveable teddies are a perfect alternative to the traditional hot water bottle, at about £15 to £20. Also, a perfect customisable gadget gift is a digital photo keyring, which can accept any image from your computer for around £10 to £15, while digital photo frames offer the same concept, for the home. These allow the person to always have their favourite pictures on display without having a room full of photos, and are around £50, up to £300 for ones that can link wirelessly to a PC.

For anyone with a car, sat-navs have become this year`s must have gadget. Unlike many other types of gadget, these have been just as popular with men and women, old and young. As well as being a novel gadget, they can also be useful; and provide an extra feeling of safety to those who drive a lot. They are available for under £100, but expect to pay more like £150 for a decent model. Another `every person` helpful gadget is emergency mobile phone chargers, which are about the size of a cigarette lighter and can provide enough charge to make a call on a flat battery for about £10.

Of course, with all these gadgets about your home at Christmas, it becomes the peak time of year for burglaries, so it`s a good time to make sure you have adequate Buildings and contents insurance</a>. In the current economic climate, you should always compare prices before buying, to make sure you`re getting exactly the right product, without paying too much.