Holiday gadgets on a budgetFrom MP3 players to GPS systems, what you can get for under $200.NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Consumers are expected to spend an average $195 on consumer electronics gifts this holiday season, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Here's a look at what that will buy you.
Video games $49.99-$59.99 www.circuitcity.com, www.bestbuy.com Chances are you won't be able to get your hands on the latest consoles from Nintendo and Sony (Charts) this season, but there's no shortage of new games. "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" for Nintendo's Wii sells for $49.99 at Circuit City while "The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion" for Microsoft's (Charts) Xbox 360 and the PS3 retails for $59.99 at Best Buy. Sansa M240 MP3 player $69.99 www.sandisk.com MP3 players are expected to remain trendy this holiday and SanDisk's (Charts) 1 GB portable player is likely to be a popular gift choice, according to a tech retail poll conducted by RBC Capital Markets This version of SanDisk's M240 player holds about 240 songs and also has a FM tuner. Cruzer Titanium USB Flash Drive $69.99 www.sandisk.com If you're prone to dropping things, this 1 GB portable drive was designed with you in mind. The Cruzer Titanium is virtually indestructible, ensuring that your photos and documents remain protected. "This is as safe as you can get when it comes to a flash drive," says Rob Enderle of technology consulting firm Enderle Group. iPod shuffle and nano $79-$199 www.apple.com The $79 iPod shuffle is another budget option for music lovers. For those looking for more songs at their fingertips, there's also the iPod nano, which starts at $149. For a few extra bucks, there's Apple's (Charts) RED iPod nano, which starts at $199. Apple donates $10 from each of these special edition music players to fight AIDS in Africa and initial checks show they're selling well, according to American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu. Moto Q $99.99 (with phone contract) www.motorola.com, www.verizonwireless.com The Moto Q costs $469.99 without a service plan, but add a 2-year contract with Verizon and a $100 rebate and the price falls to $99.99. "The Q is perfect for first-time smartphone users," said Rich Dzierwa, managing editor of Consumers Digest. In addition to running Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, the sleek Q has a number of multimedia functions that are typically found on higher-priced smartphones, he added. Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 $129 www.microsoft.com GPS systems that help you navigate from door to door are selling strongly this year, according to Steve Baker of market research firm NPD Group. Most of the portable devices in this category run around $500. But if you can't afford that, Enderle suggests Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 for your laptop as an alternative. The software comes with a GPS receiver you connect through your computer's USB port. The tool announces step-by-step directions as you drive and also allows you to track your route in real-time. |
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