The Christmas shopping season is well and truly upon us. Now is the time to start thinking about which shiny, sorta-expensive gadget gift you’re going to bestow upon friends and lovers. Make sure you don’t pick these. They’re worse than coal.
A Cheap Android Tablet
Oh, a tablet! You shouldn’t have! This must have cost you an arm and a leg, buddy. You bought me a tablet! Are you a space millionaire? I can’t wait to browse the web, watch videos and quickly gouge my eyes out as I realise that a budget Android tablet is the must infuriatingly awful piece of tech out there. Even expensive Android tablets struggle to perform decently — so this PanDigital 72-70FW 7-inch tablet, for example, is a criminal act. This is something you should buy for someone if you hate them. It will be unbelievably slow, buggy and run a shockingly outdated version of Android that will never be outdated. This isn’t even a trojan horse of a gift — it’s a horse covered in pox sores that will ruin the household you introduce it to.
iPod touch
The iPod touch is a great device, but it’s filled with old parts. That won’t last for long. Don’t buy one of these until Apple sticks the iPhone 4S’ stellar camera and faster A6 processor — which is inevitable. You don’t want to be stuck with last-gen tech for next year’s toy.
Digital Picture Frame
This never made sense when it was expensive, and it still doesn’t make sense now that it’s less expensive. If you want a framed photo on your wall print one out. Photo prints are amazing! They have infinite battery life, great viewing angles, cost pennies and won’t make you look like a douchebag with a digital picture frame in your house. If you’d like to look at more than one photo, wish list holders can open… their computers. Remember Facebook?
Budget Point-and-Shoot Camera
The point-and-shoot camera is dying because phones are getting so great at both pics and video. So if you’re planning on spending below $250 or so, don’t bother — odds are a decent smartphone will be on par with it, and will spare someone extra bulk in your pocket.
Beats by Dre
The entire line is horrendously overpriced — you’re paying for the name of a rapper who hasn’t put out a rap album in 12 years. Instead of going for a dubious status symbol, pick out something great and affordable from our headphone Battlemodo.
Anything else you think should be on this list? Make your case in the comments.
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