X

2016 Holiday gift guide: Tech gadgets for non-techies

It may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but not everyone out there is as in love with technology as we are? But that doesn't mean that they won't find tech gifts useful. And who knows, next year they too many be a tech-head!
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer
Amazon Echo dot
1 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Amazon Echo dot

I have a love/hate relationship with voice-controlled devices, but the Amazon Echo Dot is an exception.

The Echo Dot is small, unobtrusive, adorable, easy to use, and very flexible. And once you master a few commands, it's actually very powerful.

Excellent bit of kit, especially for those who are subscribed to Amazon Prime, and it's only $50.

Amazon Fire HD8
2 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Amazon Fire HD8

A powerful and fully-featured tablet for $90 would have once been unthinkable, but the Amazon Fire HD8, with it's 8-inch display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, and 12-hour battery is a force to be reckoned with.

The ideal tablet for someone who just wants to keep things simple.

Sony PS4/Microsoft Xbox
3 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Sony PS4/Microsoft Xbox

Console gaming is PC gaming without all the hassles of drivers and system specs and patching. Sure, a console can never match the performance and graphical quality you can get from a PC, but for the price they are unbeatable.

When it comes to the PS7 vs. Xbox One, I really can't play favorites - to me they both feel just as good, and in the end the choice comes down to personal preference.

Apple TV
4 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Apple TV

One of the easiest-to-use home entertainment hubs out there, the Apple TV is a great way to get an existing television to do a lot more. And it's not bound to the Apple iTunes store either - with apps such as Hulu, Netflix, HBO Now, Watch ESPN giving access to a whole raft of entertainment.

And starting at $149, the Apple TV is one of the cheapest things you can pick up at the Apple Store!

Backblaze
5 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Backblaze

Give the gift of safe, secure, and easy-to-use off-site backup to someone who doesn't know how to back up their data.

With a Backblaze subscription, you're not giving a thing, you're giving them piece of mind, all for as little as $5 a month or $50 annually.

1Password
6 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

1Password

You definitely know someone who reuses passwords or who writes others on notes stuck to their PC?

1Password is the perfect way to protect passwords across all devices.

Ring doorbell
7 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Ring doorbell

See who's at your door without opening the door (or even getting up). Ring is also great when you're away from home as it allows you to communicate remotely with the people at your door.

Setup is easy - you might have to drill a few holes, bit it works both as a wired and wireless solution, and there's a built-in battery that's good for weeks of use.

HP Chromebook 14
8 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

HP Chromebook 14

If games consoles are for people who don't want to have to futz about with drivers and patches, Chromebooks are the laptops for people who don't want the hassle or expense of a Windows or Mac laptop.

Another advantage of Chromebooks is that all the hard work of backing up your data, patching the operating system, and keeping it safe from hackers and malware, is all handled for the owner in the background.

And with a system like the HP Chromebook 14 starting at $300, it's an affordable way to give the gift of a laptop.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
9 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite is the best way to read books on an electronic device. The screen has no glare so it's easy on the eyes, and you can read it anywhere from the dead of night to bright sunshine.

And with a battery life that measured in weeks, no hours, the reading doesn't have to stop.

Tile
10 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Tile

Tile is a tiny Bluetooth tracker that's great for people who lose things. Attach a tile to keys, luggage, wallet, umbrella or even bicycle, and find it quickly and easily.

Logitech Harmony Companion
11 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Logitech Harmony Companion

Get rid of your remote control clutter by replacing them all with a single, programmable telly gun such as the Logitech Harmony Companion.

This one remote control works with over 270,000 entertainment and smart home devices right out of the box. From TV, cable and gaming console, to AV receiver and the Roku media player, all the way to smart lights, locks, thermostats, and even Alexa.

Nest Protect smoke + CO alarm
12 of 12 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Nest Protect smoke + CO alarm

This is ideal for those of us where every cooking session seems to end with a few minutes of frantically waving a dishcloth at the smoke alarm.

The Nest Protect alarm combines a high-end smoke and CO detector with handy features such as an automatic path light and the ability to hush it remotely using a smartphone instead of a dishcloth.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos