Mother's Day Tech: Gifts for the geeky mom
Mother's Day is just days away, and if you have yet to get Mommy Dearest a gift, now is the time. Sure, flowers and brunch are nice, but why not surprise her with something useful? Check out these Mother's Day tech ideas for this year's gift. If your mom is like my mom who still can't figure out her simple point-and-shoot digital camera, then most of these will fit her needs -- and they won't require you to spend hours troubleshooting on the phone. Feel free to add on any gift suggestions in the comments section below.
Laptops
1. Get your mom something that will make her life easier while she's waiting for you at soccer practice. The HP Mini 2140 netbook (left) holds seven hours of battery life, and weighs only three pounds. The 10-inch screen makes this laptop small enough to fit in a handbag. It has 1 GB of RAM and a 160 GB hard drive. The cheapest we found it was $423.93 at eComElectronics.com, but it has a list price of $449.
2. An alternative to a PC netbook is an Apple MacBook. The software it comes with will make it easy to manage her digital life -- photos, video, e-mail, etc. Plus, the magnetic power cord is handy if she has small children running around the house. It simply disconnects from the computer with a slight tug, meaning the laptop doesn't come crashing to the floor. A white 13-inch MacBook starts at $999 from Apple.
Laptop Bags
1. TheKailo Chic in Mocha Floral is a great laptop tote for the mom that doesn't want to look like she's carrying a laptop bag. It's on sale for $69.99, but add an additional 10 percent off with coupon code RCK6 at checkout.
2. For the moms who mean business, but with style, theElement Briefcase offers a stylish solution for carrying around your laptop. It is $89.99 from MobileEdge.com, but save 10 percent with coupon code MOTHERS09, and free shipping.
Cameras
1. Yes, it's our one pink item, but some moms actually do like pink. Start your mom off with a basic digital camera for less than $150. The Pink CyberShot S980BDL/P digital camera bundle packs in the pink 12.1-megapixel camera, a black and pink case, and a 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark 2 Media. Not a bad deal for all that. The bundle is $149.99 from the Sony Style store.
2. For the more advanced mom, the new Sony CyberShot DSC-HX1 digital camera is definitely a step up from a normal point-and-shoot, but not quite at the DSLR level. It's easy to use, and is the world's first digital still camera with "Sweep Panorama" mode. Finally, a way to capture those big family dinners. The HX1 is $499.99 from the Sony Style store, but is currently sold out. You can get it for $483.55 at Amazon.com.
More gift ideas after the jump.
'Tune' Out
1. Give your mom an iPod nano filled with her favorite music. You can get an 8 GB refurbished nano from the Apple Outlet for just $99 -- saving you $50. It's still covered by Apple's one-year warranty, so you can feel confident in your purchase.
2. Sometimes moms need a break from hearing their kids bicker with one another. The JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones are a little pricey -- $109.99 at Amazon.com, down from $199.99 -- but the comfortable headphones offer an escape from the outside world. They also come with accessories such as a compact, hard-shell carrying case, as well as an airplane adapter, and a quarter-inch plug.
Miscellaneous
These items don't fit in any of the above categories, but they're still pretty awesome, and your mom will probably think they're cute.1. MIMOBOTs are designer USB flash drives that your mom will be sure to love. Search through the different designs to find one that fits your mother's taste. They start at $24.95 for a 1 GB drive, and go up to $59.95 for an 8 GB drive. The Queen drive, by Undoboy, is on sale right now for 35 percent off. We also liked the Princess Leia drive, if your mom's into Star Wars.
2. The VuPoint Solutions Digital Film and Slide Converter lets you convert your old 35mm negatives and slides to digital 5.0mp format at 1800 dpi. It's easy to use, but only works with PCs. The converter is sold at select retailers, bu you can get it at Bed Bath & Beyond on clearance for $79.99.
3. Stay connected with your mama, even if you live halfway across the country. Amazon is having a special deal on Logitech webcams. Buy a Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000and get a free Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX. The discount is applied at checkout, so add both items to your cart to see the savings. The QuickCam Pro 9000 has a list price of $99.99, but is selling for $73.99. With the Communicate STX priced at $49.99, you're getting a value of over $150 for under $75.
4. And to end our roundup, the most popular belle of the ball, the Kindle 2. Moms love to read, and most of them are used to reading actual books. If your mom hates reading the newspaper online, the Kindle 2 is the perfect solution. She can take it anywhere, and she'll seem so hip and tech savvy. Plus, you can adjust the font size, so the moms who wear reading glasses will have an easier time reading. The Kindle 2 costs $359 at Amazon.com.
Prices and deals are subject to change.