Scrooging It: 12 cheap holiday tech gifts for the miserly skinflint

Samsung's latest Chromebook is not only miserly on power consumption but it could also save you time and headaches, particularly if you are interested in a zero-maintenance computer.

At $250, the Samsung Exynos 5 ARM-powered notebook runs all of its applications using the Chrome browser on Google's cloud, with no local storage to worry about. It's ideal for those family members that no longer need a full-blown PC to run their basic applications and use the Internet. The Chromebook features USB 3.0 and HDMI connectivity options for plugging into a full-sized monitor and using external peripherals such as a full-sized keyboard and mouse. Plus it comes with 2 years free 100GB Google Drive storage and 10 coupons for GogoInflight internet access, worth the price of the device alone. It's like Google is actually paying you to buy it.

Microsoft's Windows 8 Professional operating system can give a big boost in performance to your aging PC running on Windows 7, Windows Vista or even Windows XP. At $40, this is the cheapest Windows OS upgrade in history, and is packed with a multitude of new features, including integrated antivirus and antimalware, superior power managment, lower memory resource utilization, support for SSD drives, faster boot time and improved networking and video performance.

For a list of new features and performance improvements in the new version of Microsoft Windows, check out Jason Perlow's article.

If you're going to buy a Windows 8 upgrade, you want to have the latest multi-touch capabilities on your PC as well to take advantage of the OS's new touch features. Look no further than Logitech's line of multi-touch enabled trackpads and mice, all of which are priced affordably.

Jason Perlow has reviewed Logitech's T400 and T650 products here.

Amazon's Kindle with Wi-Fi and Special Offers is now so cheap that it's practically a no-brainer purchase nowadays if you're looking for a basic E-Ink reader device. With the largest choice of titles avaliable, and when combined with Amazon's Prime program which gives you free access to the Kindle Lending Library, as well as the ability to borrow books from your local library system electronically, there's no better e-book reader on the market for the money.

What's better than the gift of never-ending streams of seltzer and soft drinks? And better yet, to never have to schlep the bottles home anymore? Sodastream is the inexpensive and eco-friendly way to get fizzy drinks at home, using re-useable soda bottles and refillable, locally exchangable CO2 canisters (Bed and Bath, etc.)

Apple calls it "Just a hobby business" but the Apple TV 3rd-generation is primed to disrupt the entire entertainment industry and may enable you to "cut the cable" and eliminate subscription TV services. Provided you have broadband internet access, Apple TV allows you to stream on demand TV shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu+ and iTunes, and has the ability to act as an airplay client for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to beam movies, music and game output right to your TV set and home entertainment system.

Although the Nest 2.0 digital, Internet-enabled thermostat seems pricey at $250, this home automation marvel could actually save you big bucks over the course of the year by intelligently managing your heat and air conditioning system. Nest automatically turns your HVAC off when you leave the home, and knows from learning and crowdsourcing and local weather conditions as well as when you're about to return home to adjust the system to an optimal and energy-saving temperature.

While the $329 iPad Mini may be the Apple of everyone's eye this Christmas, the miserly choice is without question Google's Nexus 7 tablet, which runs on the Android 4.2 operating system, runs hundreds of thousands of applications from Google's Play Store, with access to massive amounts of content, and is loaded with a 720p HD screen, a powerful nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor and 16GB of onboard storage, for a whole $199.  

If you're looking for just a way to listen to tunes while you are exercising or just lounging around, the Scroogy choice is without a doubt the 7th-generation iPod Nano. The basic $150 model now includes a 2.5" multi-touch video display and even an FM stereo tuner if you want to listen to the news or just your favorite broadcast pop music or talk radio shows. And the Bluetooth 4.0 transmitter allows you to go completely wireless with high-quality sound with a wireless headset.

Nothing is going to save you more money than avoiding the doctor or ending up in a hospital. And to do that you need to exercise. Why not track your performance electronically, the fun way? During the day, the Fitbit One bluetooth pedometer  tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed. At night, it measures your sleep cycle to help you see how to sleep better, and it can even wake you in the morning without waking your partner. Your stats upload wirelessly via computer, or select mobile devices. Powered by your stats, you can set goals, and track progress with charts and graphs. Stay motivated by earning badges or connecting with friends for support or friendly competitions. Log food, work-outs and more. Bring greater fitness into your life - seamlessly, socially, 24 hours a day.

Not all of your electronic devices are miserly, but you can keep them filled up with go-juice on the road using the iCarrier, a rechargeable battery pack with over 12000mAh of reserve power. With integrated, dual 1A/2A USB ports allowing up to two devices to be charged simultaneously, this portable battery pack will charge even the most power-hungry smartphones and tablets, including the iPad 4th-generation and the iPhone 5.