Budget Tech Gifts, Under $50

That's it. You've finally exhausted every possible option in the Star Wars franchise. You know what your geek really wants, but all the safe-bet tech gifts come with price tags that rival your entire holiday budget. And frankly, that's how you landed here. Sit down, have a cup of coffee -- we found some good stuff.


Nero LiquidTV TiVo PC, $40
Turns your PC into a TiVo, letting you export shows onto your iPhone, PSP, or DVD. You can also burn shows to disc more easily.

3 Pod Charging Station, $45
Your devices fit in the slots, and the base hides a power strip and all the gadget cords.


Retrolink USB Nintendo NES Classic Controller, $28
Take your gamer back to the glory days in the family basement. This retro Nintendo NES game controller works with either Windows or Mac, and is awesome.


Eye-Fi, $49
Automatically uploads photos to your computer and the Web as you take them.

Griffin Simplifi Dock, $38
Streamline your workspace with this mini multitasker. The Simplifi is a dock for your iPhone or iPod, a media card reader, and a USB hub.

Powerstick USB Powered Portable Charger, $49
The Powerstick is about the size of a small pack of gum. Charge it using any USB port (PC, car, plane), and then  throw it in your pocket and use it to charge mobile devices anywhere. Includes nine adapters.

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Maggie Mason is the author of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog, publisher of Mighty Mighty Media, and a Twitter power user (@Maggie). Her personal blog, Mighty Girl was recently nominated for a SxSW Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was named one of Silicon Valley's Top 50 Influencers by Now Public.