Impress Your Gadget Girl With These Valentine’s Day Selections

The idea of impressing girls with electronics doesn’t always go together, but if you’re one of those lucky guys, instead of showering her with those old and tired chocolates (diet) and flowers (they die and are a pain to clean up), why not pick up something that’s not only useful and will last beyond February? It’s important to strike a balance - your gadget-loving girl probably isn’t into the hyper-girly stuff, but that ideal gadget with a feminine flair of class is always a winner. And it doesn’t have to be a $700 netbook, or even a $200 iPod - there’s plenty of cheaper alternatives - after all, it’s the thought that counts, right?

So for those guys still on the fence about what to get your girl of exquisite taste for Valentine’s Day, here are some ideas that’ll hopefully make her gasp “oy vey”~
 
 
 
 
Siena casual laptop bag from Knomo - $200
Not that I can really tell the difference, but this is supposedly one of those dual-use bags, serving both as a stylish 15″ laptop toter and handbag. It’s a nice idea and puts it all together (as far as I can tell) in a nice package, but how many girls who know a damn about laptops would own a 15″ brick? Those things top out at 6 or 7 pounds, and not everyone is built like Michelle Obama…
Highlights: PC/Mac compatible, Knomo “ID Tracker System” if some scrub steals it
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Customized Valentine’s Zune 16gb - $180
The Microsoft Zune has come a long way since their shit-colored debut, and for the most part, it’s reinvented itself into a sleek, desirable player, one without the obnoxious Apple logo branded on its backside. Zunes can be customized with artist-designed engravings to go with your thoughtful message; if the $180 tag is too high, consider the 4gb version - it’s only $99.
Highlights: 16gb flash memory, FM tuner, wireless sync, not iPod
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Sony Reader Harlequin 60th Anniversary Limited Edition - $300
The Sony Reader was the first major E-Ink digital reader to hit the mainstream, followed closely by Amazon’s successful Kindle - while they’ve yet to gain widespread popularity, the usefulness and support is certainly there - hundreds of thousands of titles are available for download, including the free romance titles the Harlequin provides. Tech head, avid reader, trendsetter, trailblazer - you couldn’t ask for more!
Highlights: Stores ~160 eBooks, 7,500 continuous page turn battery life, 9oz
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Heart Shaped Cupid Mp3 Player Necklace - $24.95
In another brilliant example of “it’s the thought that counts“, those on a tight budget or just not that into their girl can pick up the suspiciously tacky appropriately named “Heart Shaped Cupid Mp3 Player Necklace” for less than a bag of 100 quarters. No screen, and the controls are curiously absent from any product shots - but hey, it’s red and heart shaped, and it’s cheaper than the Shuffle.
Highlights: 1gb, .mp3 and .wma support, USB connectivity
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Firebox USB Mix Tape - $28
Those with an extremely potent sense of nostalgia can shell out the better part of $30 for a 64mb thumb drive, wrapped in a plastic box with an old cassette tape design. Well, “nostalgia” implies that one actually experienced it in the past, and even I wasn’t old enough to make mix tapes for my 4th grade crush. Maybe your dad would think this is pretty hot?
Highlights: 64mb (enough for one and a half .flac files), 6 different designs to choose from (!)
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Red Heart Digital Photo Keyring - $18.50
Another nice budget solution, the digital photo keychain makes sure that your girl won’t ever forget what you look like. With a 1.1″ 65k color screen, you might want to include a pair of reading glasses, but on the bright side, this means your pictures can be basement-level resolution, probably a good idea considering the 8mb storage.
Highlights: 8mb, .gif / .bmp / .jpg support, USB charging & connectivity
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Meninos Photoshop Magnet Kit - $25
One tech-related thing that girls are consistently better than guys at is the art of Photoshop - our resident Ziggy is a shining example. And, if I had $25 to spare, a bunch of rectangular fridge magnets might do just the trick. There’s an Illustrator version as well, and both are available on 20″ or 30″ magnetic boards for extra, in case your fridge is already clogged with Corel magnets…
Highlights: Menu bar, color palette, tool bar, I have no idea how to use photoshop
      [product link]
 
 
Walmart Blow a Kiss iPhone App - FREE
Walmart shows us why they’re the king of recession lifestyle with this free yet creatively thoughtful iPhone app - simply type in your name (or leave it anonymous), your kissee’s name and email, and a little message - to send, just blow into your iPhone’s microphone and off it goes. The email does originate from the “embracethesavings” domain, so while that might not be Romeo slick, it does show your iPhone-clad girl you’re thinking of her.
Highlights: As far as I know, the only blow-activated iPhone email app that’s pink
      [product link]