In reality I'm a techno-geek. If I had the money I would have every fancy gizmo, gadget and whiz-bang I could get my hands on. As I cannot afford to buy all of the cool things out there, I must simply be happy to write about them.

Christmas is fast approaching, much faster than my preparations are progressing of course. It's a normal situation I think. I do not understand how something so huge can move so quickly and so quietly and sneak up on the unsuspecting to say "I'M HERE! Where's the egg nog?!"

So to help you prepare for that special techo-someone in your life, here's a quick run down of five gizmo and gadget gift ideas. Pictures are clickable for more information.

- While few self-respecting techno-geeks will admit to loving Dance Dance revolution and games like it, we all know you are out there. Hey, it's ok...everyone loves a good dance now and again. But this baby will give you that real arcade feel and make you sweat. Stop! Hammertime! There are actually two versions of the Metal Pad, the Arcade Version and the slightly cheaper Standard Version. The great thing about these mats is that they are multi-platform and will work not only with a PC but also a PS One, Playstation 2 and Xbox.

- Carrying a DVD around with us all day is tiresome. Not because it's big and heavy, but because it doesn't fit into our pocket protectors. So take a page from the miniaturization masters and pick up one of these whopping 4-Gigabyte USB flash Drives!! Talk about the epitome of maximum storage and minimum space. This small (less than 2 inches across and half an inch high) drive will store a mega-load of information. Want to personalize your gift? No need to make a mix-tape of music for your geek these days when you can make a massive compilation all on one tiny little square. Let them truly know you care by giving them a Flash drive full of (legal) music.

- Nothing says I love you like an HD-ready LCD TV! Well ok maybe that's not true. These days they are not exactly cheap but they are much more affordable than they have been in the past. Here is a 23 inch LCD TV that is HD-Ready and can handle enough input to make anyone happy. It is not the top of the line but the TV boasts 720p and 1080i resolution (no 1080p though), a 178 degree viewing angle and a dynamic contrast of 1600:1 all in a 21 pound package with a 16:9 (widescreen) format. The ample input ports will allow your geek to hook up all manner of devices including video game consoles and even a PC. As an added bonus you can watch your favorite episodes of Desperate Housewives while they're not around in beautiful color and clarity.

- Let's face it, if your loved one already has the massively cool TV but they're lacking a sound system then they're only getting half the experience. This speaker system will help them feel the roar of the orcs as they watch the Lord of the Rings or make them duck those flashing light sabers in Star Wars and with 1200-watts of power you'll have enough sound to really get back at the neighbors for their late night Canasta parties! The 6.5 inch active subwoofer will drown out their pounding on the walls as well so you can say 'sorry, I didn't hear you knocking.' The satellite speakers come complete with stands so you can quickly position them for the best sound matrix without needing to put them on the end tables as a centerpiece. The system accepts 5.1 Surround Sound input and allows you to manipulate the sound from the full function remote so you needn't bother to get off the couch. Again we're not talking top of the line but more like good sound on a budget.

- Everyone needs to clean at some point in their life and honestly, listening to the vacuum cleaner suck up the dirt isn't the greatest audio experience. So drown it out with these cool Bluetooth headphones! Just plug the box into the headphone jack on any audio device, pop on the headphones and you have about 60 feet of mobility. Your geek will be able to listen to their favorite tech podcast and you will still get your apartment clean. Plus when your love-geek is out you can lounge around on the balcony or patio and drown out the sirens and the screaming neighbors while catching a few rays. Both you and your loved one need some sound? Well let them play their favorite video game on the PC and you can use their cool TV and these to watch your complete collection of Sex and the City without being interrupted by the sounds of gunshots from their shooting game.

These are just a few helpful hints for the upcoming gift-giving season. We aren't talking top of the line or cutting edge here, but we are talking about affordability and still getting a decent experience from the technology. Plus 'they' say it's not the gift but the thought that counts!

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