Gifts for Grads

Of course it’s always fun to buy yourself plenty of toys to play with around the house — whether you really need them or not — but the best way to share a new technology “find” is as a gift. As graduation season quickly approaches, many of us are looking for just the right gift to give to recent high school or college grads. You can almost guarantee Aunt Shirley will get your grad started out in the real world with a new tie, or maybe good old Uncle Joe will share his love for Hawaiian shirts, but we know you want to gift the grad with something a little more exciting. This edition of HEJ showcases the best deals with the biggest thrills for those new alumni on your list this year..

All the best,

Steven R. Mitchell
Editor — HomeElectronicsJournal.com

Gifts that Make the Grade

Sony Walkman Bean MP3 Player ($119.95)

Make your new grad’s commute much more enjoyable with the amazing Walkman Bean MP3 player from Sony. With a comfortable shape that fits perfectly in the hand, the Walkman Bean is available in your choice of Licorice Black or Cotton Candy Pink. 1GB of built-in memory leaves enough room for more than 650 songs, and the Bean has an FM tuner as well, so switching from a playlist to the radio is done with just the click of a button. Data is transferred through the built-in USB connection, and the Super Quick Battery Charge takes just three minute to charge the device for up to three hours. This is the perfect little companion for a trip to class or work — or across the globe.

 


Optio T10 Digital Camera from Pentax ($349.95)

Fun and easy is the way taking pictures should be. Pentax agrees. That’s why the company created the brilliant new Optio T10 digital camera. Featuring a large, brightly lit 3-inch LCD screen with touch display and a drawing module, shots can be easily customized and illustrated seconds after taking them. This 6 megapixel camera also has a 3x optical zoom lens, housed in a slim 19.5mm high grade aluminum alloy body. This new all-in-one digital camera puts the fun back in creating pictures on the fly.


Slingbox ($249)

It doesn’t get much cooler than this. A present your grad can enjoy from anywhere. Slingbox allows access to a cable or satellite box from virtually any Windows PC with broadband Internet access, whether it's at home or halfway around the world. This device works with a laptop, desktop or any Web-enabled, Windows Mobile-powered handheld or cell phone. Measuring 1.75 inches high by 10.75 wide by 3.75 deep, this little silver brick simply rests on top of the TV — connected through S-Video or RF cable inputs — and broadcasts programming right to the portable device. Now, what high school or college grad wouldn’t go bonkers for that?!



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