5 last-minute Christmas shopping gadget gifts

So you’ve raged against traffic, fought through crowds, and ticked off items on your Christmas shopping list. But the gift-giving preparation frenzy never seems to end, even as it’s less than two weeks before December 25. So here are five geeky gift suggestions, sorted from the most expensive to least.

500GB Western Digital Passport Essential External Hard Drive – P= 4,000 or lower

USB external hard disk prices have consistently dropped over the past few years. And as more people use computers at work and at home, a portable hard drive starts to make more sense. It can fit more documents, music, pictures, movies, etc. than a puny flash drive, and at the very least lets people back up their important work.

The Western Digital Passport Essential is a personal favorite, because of its proven reliability and portability (yes, I own one). And the product is available in black, white, blue and red. The prices I saw at Park Square 1 in Makati for the 500GB black version went as low as P=3,700. If that’s still too much for you, there’s the more affordable 320GB variant.

Logitech MK250 Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo – P=1,450

Messy wiring is a universal issue for desktop computers. While a laptop keeps everything in one place, desktop computers require cables to connect its different components (monitor, the actual computer, webcam, etc.) to each other.

Until manufacturers make everything wireless, desktop users will be stuck with wires for the conceivable future. But you no longer need cables to go online (you can do so through Wi-Fi), and wireless setups are available for keyboards and mice.

The Logitech MK250 Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo not only reduces the amount of wires on your desk, it also lets you control your computer from across the room. Very useful for neat freaks and computers with ultra-large screens alike. Prices in Park Square should go no higher than P=1,450.

USB Flash Drive – P=1,000

While external hard drives are very practical, they’re still much larger the good ol’ USB flash drive. Without any moving parts, these tough nubs of data storage can even survive accidental falls — though they may not survive any intentional damage — and are small enough to fit even into the tightest of jeans.

If you do decide to buy a flash drive as a gift (or for yourself), stay away from those 1 or 2GB versions. One gigabyte may have been a big thing a few years ago, but some of the files you’ll work with today — not to mention the music, movies and pictures you’ll want to bring around — will quickly take up several gigabytes.

Besides, when an 8GB USB flash drive can go as low as P=400 (from PC Express), you get more storage capacity for your peso.

A Game on Steam – Around P=450

Who said video games are only for kids, and that only bootleg copies are cheap? Steam, among other things, is a popular online store of games for Windows and Mac PCs. One reason for its popularity is its never-ending stream of discounts and special offers, which speed up during Christmas season. Take a look at Steam’s Games Under $10 page. Any purchase on Steam is legit, meaning you’re making the games’ developers richer, not the pirates.

The great thing about Steam is that not only can you buy games for yourself at low prices (with your credit card or PayPal), you can also “gift” them to other people. All you need is their email address. Just be sure your intended recipient has a decently powerful computer and a fast internet connection at home! Many of the games available (classics like Counterstrike and relatively new gems like Plants vs. Zombies) won’t run on old computers, and since Steam is an online store, the games will have to be downloaded.

Got any gadget gift ideas of your own? Feel free to share in the comments below.