Great Ideas for Wireless Gifts

When it comes to computers, there are a number of wireless accessories that make great gifts. For this article, I've included keyboards, mice, speakers, headphones and web cams. These are easy to install and normally don't conflict with any other software or hardware. I have deliberately left out things like wireless routers and modems because unless you really know what you're doing, these are just a giant headache. If I wanted to give headaches for gifts, I'd wrap up my in-laws.

First up on our wireless parade are keyboards. A trip to any electronics or office supply store will yield a number of wireless keyboards, but determining which are good and which is a waste of money can be difficult. If you just want something cheap and dirty, you can find plenty of keyboards for under $30. On the other hand, if quality, reliance and ease-of-use are your primary concerns, I would suggest the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave, the Logitech diNovo Edge, or the Razer Tarantula. Any of these will give you the performance you're looking for. The price range for these keyboards is around $65 to $200. If you find yourself feeling a little lost in the keyboard aisle, you can't go wrong with a Logitech keyboard since they consistently dominate the keyboard market.

Wireless mice are also a great choice for a gift. They are very easy to install and there's no more pesky cord to snag on things. Like the wireless keyboard market, Logitech also dominates the wireless mouse market and with good reason. Most any Logitech mouse will be fine but the MX Air, MX510 and V500 are considered some of the best around. If you're looking for a notebook mouse, try the Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse. These fine products will set you back anywhere from $45 up to a cool $160 so do some shopping around before grabbing the first one you run across. As a side note, if you're looking to save both time and money, you might consider purchasing a keyboard and mouse combination. These usually cost a little less than buying them separately. Plus, you'll be sure that they're compatible with each other.

Looking for something a little different than mice and keyboards? How about some wireless speakers? While they may be a little more expensive than their wired counterparts, they have the advantage of better placement; wireless speakers can be placed almost anywhere. The current top models are the Acoustic Research AW871, which runs from $150 to $170. The Parrot Wireless Hi-Fi Speaker System is also a nice choice, but they can set you back close to $350. The Saitek A-250 is a well-respected wireless multimedia speaker system running anywhere from $50 to $120, making it an affordable option. If you're looking for some of the best wireless speakers, we have to head back over to Logitech. Their Z-2300 series is attractively priced at $150, but shrewd shoppers can find them as low as $79. Looking for something along the high-end? If you have the $500, you might want to check out Logitech's Z-5450 Wireless THX Speakers. These are 5.1 surround sound speakers that will thrill any PC user with their exceptional quality.

Want to give the gift of sound without having to hear it yourself? Instead of wireless speakers, you might consider wireless headphones! One of the good things about PC headphones is that you aren't restricted to ones that are strictly for computers. Just about any set of wireless headphones for your stereo will work with your PC and vice-versa. With that in mind, here is a short list of some of the better models available. The first two are from LTB Audio, the Q-Bass 2.1 Wireless Headphones and their Digital Wireless Headphones. Both are great sets but some may find the Digital Wireless to be a little light in the bass department. Q-Bass 2.1 sets can be found for around $125 while a pair of Digital Wireless can be purchased for about $100. Looking for a great, high-end set of headphones? Check out the SE-DIR800C from Pioneer. I would call these as close to perfect as possible, except for their price: $280- $300. If you want the best, you better be prepared to spend some serious money. How about something a little less pricey, but still high quality? Yet again, we have to turn back to Logitech (no, I don't work for them). While just about any of their products will do the trick, two stand out a little more than the others. The Logitech Wireless Headphones for PC and their FreePulse Wireless Headphones at $130 and $85 respectively are both admirable products guaranteed to satisfy even the most finicky listeners.

Finally we come to our last section, wireless web-cams. Things can get a little tricky with wireless web-cams. Prices can range from around $75 for simple models to well over $1,000 for professional grade models. If you're looking for something that works well and won't cost a mortgage payment, I suggest looking into GranTec's EyeSeeAll Wireless Webcam, listing around $150, Creative Labs Live! Wireless Camera for around $120 or Linksys's WVC54GC Wireless-G that retails for around $115. Any one of these will produce more than satisfactory results while still leaving you enough money to buy gifts for other people.

No matter what sort of wireless gift you want to give, do your homework. Find out what your loved one wants and make sure it's compatible with their computer or you could find yourself wasting time and money. I'm sure you'll find that the preparation you do will be worth the gratitude you receive when they open up their new computer toy.