Don’t grade too harshly for originality on this pick, but the Amazon Kindle 2 simply had to be included in the Gadget Gift Idea section this year.  Plainly put, for a book lover, the Kindle is the most amazing gift you could give this holiday season (other than perhaps a first edition of Shakespeare’s “First Folio”).

The Kindle has changed the way I read.  It’s thin and light, holds hundreds of books, and includes handy features like a built-in dictionary, highlighting and notes. Add to that works-anywhere wireless delivery of books, the ability to buy new books right on the device, and access to popular newspapers, magazines and blogs, and any bibliophile will be in heaven.

If you’re giving the Kindle as a gift, be sure to use the Gift Options menu at checkout to ship the device unregistered; that way the recipient can link the Kindle to his or her Amazon account as soon as they receive it rather than having to de-couple the reader from your account first.

M. Nichols, Editor

Netbooks are the bestselling class of notebook PCs, and there’s little wonder why; they’re affordable, small and very handy.  These systems make a great gadget gift for all of these reasons and more.

We often recommend netbooks for younger users.  Not only are they easier to carry around, but they’re also more kid-friendly than other notebooks because if they get smashed or dropped, the monetary loss is much less. 

The Acer Aspire One AOD250-1633 Netbook is a current favorite.  The $350 system comes with Windows 7 Starter, a battery that lasts up to 9 hours, and a stylish design that boosts the sometimes toyish-looking netbook to a more professional level. System specs include an N280 Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of DDR memory, a 250GB hard drive, a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a multi-touch trackpad, Bluetooth 2.1 peer-to-peer wireless, an integrated web cam and a built-in LAN card.  All of these features come in a light-weight, 2.8 pound system.

Young or old, anyone who needs a mobile computer will appreciate this netbook.

It’s difficult to imagine a gadget lover who doesn’t have an MP3 player — so quality earbuds make a safe and thoughtful gift for any techie in your life.

The Sennheiser CX300 Earbuds are an impressive and affordable option ($25), and make a great addition to any digital audio player.  They can also be used with smartphones, portable DVD players, laptops, etc., with 3.5mm headphone jacks. 

Includes a carrying case and small, medium and large ear adapters.  Available in black or white.

Know anyone who would enjoy a game system, a Blu-ray player, a Netflix streaming set-top box and a home media center in their living room?  If so, the PlayStation 3 is the only all-in-one solution for ‘em.

At $299, the newest 4th Generation PS3 “Slim” is a bit pricey, but when you consider the cost of the individual devices you’d need to fill all of these multimedia needs, it actually looks more and more like a bargain. 

A top-notch Blu-ray player costs about $200.  A Netflix streaming box like the Roku HD Digital Video Player is $99.  The least-expensive game console, the Nintendo Wii,  is $199.  That’s $500 and you still don’t have what you need to do everything the PS3 does.

The PS3 is also an excellent video file and photo viewer for your TV with a built-in TV show and movie store, 120GB of internal storage, and frequent software updates. Throw in the optional PS3 Blu-ray Disc Remote and the console becomes even more of a living room multimedia powerhouse.

The story of the White Elephant is an old one; a gift is said to be a While Elephant when the cost of upkeep makes the item a terrible burden to the recipient. 

In the world of gadget gifts, there is no better example of this situation than the inkjet printer.  Give someone the wrong make or model and you burden your friend or loved one with hundreds of dollars in ink purchases for the life of the printer.  Color ink alone can cost over $50, and that’s without replacing the black ink cartridge.   When gifting a printer, the cost of replacement ink should be at the top of the list of things to consider.

The HP Photosmart C4680, therefore, is an excellent choice for an all-in-one inkjet printer.  The unit itself is affordable, around $70, but the replacement ink comes in a combined black and color package which sells for less than $30. 

Thanks to Jack for the recommendation.