8 Tech Turkeys To Avoid As Gifts

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It's that consumerist time of year again. Halloween was barely over before we started seeing TV commercials with Santa shilling everything from toys to luxury automobiles. As always, tech gear will be high on plenty of shopping lists this holiday season. But before you go online or head off to the mall or big-box store, pause to think about the message your gift will send.

Thinking about buying your loved one of these hot fitness wearables? What you're really saying is, "You've really let yourself go." The not-so-secret truth about these sensor-based devices is that users will soon sense boredom as they log largely the same data and behavior patterns, day after day and week after week. It may take a week or it may take a month, but sooner or later, that fob or wristband is going to end up in a drawer. Not to rain on the wearables parade, but anybody with a tad of self-awareness knows when they've been sitting on their butt too long and when they've been eating too much.

At the other extreme are those (mostly youthful) sports enthusiasts and adventurers. But if you really love them, don't give them one of those sports and action cameras. That's just an invitation to injury. Before you know it they'll take up rock climbing or try a skateboard trick that will send them straight to the hospital.

Wish lists seem to get longer each year, but don't try to save money by buying no-name-brand copies of Bluetooth speakers or low-cost versions of high-demand toys such as drones or robots. What you're really saying is, "I don't care about you enough to buy the best." Then there are the electronics that will end up on a shelf and, later, a table at the next garage sale. Digital picture frames and docking devices are high on this list, obviated by smartphones, tablets, Bluetooth connectivity, and always-changing device-connection and charger standards.

What do some of these gift choices say about you? It could be that you have a callous disregard for other people's feelings, that you're a penny pincher, or that you failed to learn that sometimes it's best to buy fewer-but-better presents. If the high-quality drone or Bluetooth speaker is just too expensive, just say no rather than buying a cheap knockoff that will only disappoint.

Our best advice is to shop local when you can, buy quality, and don't spend too much time online or in malls stockpiling presents. Make do with gadgets that are more than adequate, and donate some of the bucks you save to charity. When you do replace and retire old electronics, sell them online or recycle them if they're no longer worth anything.

Read on for our advice on what presents not to buy, and we'll save your reputation as a sensitive spouse, a wise parent, and a good buddy.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and do yourself a favor: Spend more time with family and friends than shopping carts this season.

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