Eleven Great Gifts for Geeks

Skip the iPad - Here Are Some Pretty Cool Tech Gift Ideas

Buying a holiday gift for a serious geek or gadget aficionado can be tough. Chances are, they've already got a tablet and a smartphone. And those remote-controlled helicopters always crash and burn within 10 minutes. (Last year, mine had a fatal encounter with the ceiling fan.) That Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II looks great, but no way are you spending over $1000 on that. Happily, I have some answers. Or at least some possibilities.

Check out my list of eleven rather fun and unique geeky gifts below. All of them are under $200, except for one. Oh, and if you have any great tech/nerd/geek gift ideas, I want your suggestions, too!

#1: Magic Wand Programmable TV Remote Control ($53.99) Accio, HBO! This Potter-esque wand magically learns up to 13 commands from your existing remote control and maps them to wizardly motions. Flick it side to side to change channels; twist the wand to control volume. For wizards, witches, and occasionally Muggles. Just don’t put your eye out with this thing.

#2: Discovery Bay Atari Arcade for iPad ($60) securely docs your iPad while you play old-school games like Centipede, Asteroids, and Missile Command. The joystick’s big red ball handle and giant buttons recreate arcade game style. Download Atari’s Greatest Hits app from the Apple Store and choose from 99 Atari games.

#3: The iPhone 4/4S/5 Telephoto Lens Kit ($35) extends the iPhone’s range by eight times. It includes an 8x or 12x lens for iPhone 4/4S or 5, respectively, tripod, and case. For those occasions when you want to record police without getting close enough to be arrested.

#4: The portable Retro USB Turntable ($99.99) lets you convert vinyl recordings to digital delights anywhere. Its briefcase style and lithium-ion batteries make it highly portable, and the old-fashioned design will persuade your Dad to trust you with his Nat King Cole collection.

#5: The iPhone Photo Printer ($149) prints 4x6 inch, 300 dpi color photos straight from your iPhone in just 55 seconds. This compact thermal printer is ideal for travel and takes up very little desktop space. Also compatible with Android 2.0 or higher phones.

#6: The ClamCase ($149) is a clamshell case for iPads that includes a keyboard, effectively turning an iPad into a laptop while protecting the really expensive part.

#7: Soulo Karaoke for iPad Microphone ($50 wired, $100 wireless), combined with its free iPad app, turns your tablet into a karaoke machine. It includes pitch correction for off-key singers, and it suppresses song lyrics so only you can be heard singing. Of course, you can record and share your singing on Twitter and Facebook.

#8: The Grid-It iPad Case ($34) holds chargers, cords, cameras, headphones, and just about any digital device in its web of elasticized bands while your tablet snuggles in a neoprene lined compartment.

#9: Magic Cube Keyboard ($170) is a USB-charged device that uses laser beams to project a working full-size keyboard onto any flat surface.

#10: The black carbon-fiber iWallet Slim incorporates a biometric fingerprint security system so no one can steal from your wallet – except the people charging $500 for this thing. Also shields RFID-bearing IDs and credit cards from eavesdroppers.

#11: Marled Touchscreen Gloves ($14) feature conductive yarn at the tips of thumb, index, and middle fingers so you can use your smartphone without fear of frostbite.

But hey, there ARE twelve days of Christmas, and I've only got eleven ideas here. Got more ideas for geek gifts? Post your comment below...