Holiday Gift Guide: 5 Gifts Under $100

It’s that time of year again…Time to start listening for hints from loved ones on what they might like for Christmas. Over the next few weeks, I’ll give you some ideas for some great tech gifts for any budget. This week, we’ll start with the gifts under $100.

1.     Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad or iPad Mini

Price: $99.99 or $79.99

This iPad and iPad Mini cover is slim yet protective. This ultrathin screen cover fits seamlessly over the iPad’s screen using the built in magnets in the iPad’s frame. The keyboard connects to the iPad using Bluetooth wireless technology, which makes typing much more precise without adding extra wires to the device.

2.     iHome iDM11 Rechargeable Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Speakerphone

Price: $49.97

This little portable speaker has a modern, attractive design and an even more attractive price tag. It makes a great gift for the music lover who enjoys days on the beach or going camping. This speaker wirelessly connects to a smartphone, tablet, or computer using Bluetooth technology. It also has a built-in microphone, which means it can be used as a speakerphone to take calls.

The sound quality from this little speaker is surprising given its small size and price tag.

3.     Monster NCredible N-Tune High-Performance On-Ear Headphones or Monster NCredible N-Ergy In-Ear Headphones

Price: $79.97

Monster makes some great headphones and earphones and they make a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer. The NCredible N-Tune on-ear headphones have a sleek design and flexible headband. The earcups are plush and soft, making them very comfortable to wear. They have great sound clarity and deliver just the right amount of bass without overpowering lyrics and music.

If the music lover on your list prefers in-ear headphones, the Monster NCredible N-Ergy in-ear headphones are a great choice. They’re definitely a worthwhile upgrade from the earphones that come with smartphones, iPods, and other music devices. The audio quality on these headphones is pretty impressive for their price. The sound is rich and clear and the bass, just like on the NCredible Ntunes, is just right.

4.     iHome iDL45 Lightning Dock Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock with USB Charge

Price: $98.24

The iHome iDL45 is an iPod, iPhone, or iPad dock, alarm clock, stereo, and radio all rolled into one! It makes charging a portable Apple device convenient and waking up just a bit easier with custom playlists. It makes for a great gift for the music loving, hard to wake teens on your holiday shopping list.

5.     Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote

Price: $79.99

Keeping track of remote controls has become more challenging than ever with the number of devices the average home has in its entertainment arsenal. There’s the remote for the TV, DVD player, cable box, media-streaming device, and audio system—that makes for a lot of remotes! The best way to tame this mess of remote controls is to consolidate them using a universal remote. One of my favourites is the Logitech Harmony 650. This is a powerful universal remote that controls up to 5 devices and has a colour screen to make navigation easy. It also features an ergonomic design and is programmable via a Windows or Mac computer. The only down side of giving this remote as a gift is that if you give it to someone who’s not very tech-savvy, you’ll probably have to help set it up.

By Mike Agerbo

December 03, 2013