Upping the dues --- Gifts $150 to $300

Microsoft Kinect

You lot are the controller - $150

If yous know anyone with an Xbox 360 console who would savor some practiced family fun and so we'd recommend putting this one on your gift list. The Kinect sensor costs $150 and includes Kinect Adventures, a disc total of mini-games that y'all control using nothing just body movements. You tin also exercise video chat with other Kinect users or friends on Windows Live and get vocalization control over your Xbox 360. If you are shopping for a hardcore console gamer, however, we'd recommend holding out until more than mainstream titles that tin utilize these new gaming mechanics are available.

Logitech Harmony One

Remote control on steroids - $160

Need to buy a gift for anyone with a dwelling entertainment center that doesn't already own a Logitech Harmony I? Well, you can cross them off your list because this will exist something they'll detect themselves both using and appreciating 24-hour interval in and day out. The Logitech Harmony One provides an all-in-one programmable universal remote command solution that simply works. As the ruddy on meridian, why non accompany it with a hammer to bid farewell to the six remotes he has scattered effectually the living expanse?

Livescribe Repeat Smartpen

Note-taking to the next level - $170

The Echo smartpen records everything you lot hear, write and describe and saves your notes to your computer so you can access them later on. When used on Livescribe's proprietary dot paper, the pen records a digital prototype of anything that's written, and if the internal microphone is enabled, the audio also syncs with the text. After recording, simply tap the pen or click on any give-and-take to hear what was being said at that fourth dimension. Pretty impressive and the audio quality of recordings is quite expert. It'due south the perfect gift for busy executives or students who also happens to honey cool gadgets.

Boxee Box

TV on your terms - $200

Boxee Box past D-Link brings all your favorite shows and movies from hundreds of free or paid online sources to the TV in stunning 1080p and Dolby Surroundings Sound. Dissimilar cheaper alternatives similar the Ruku and Apple Television set, all the same, information technology also pulls local content from your network and presents it all together on a great interface. Boxee Box too makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to share your favorite content with friends on social networks. And if you lot're feeling unsure well-nigh spending $200 on this little box (or if you already have a HTPC hooked up to your TV) the Boxee software is available to download for free.

iPhone four / Android-based smartphone

Stay connected wherever y'all get - $200

Although not-subsidized prices range from $450 to $699 and upwards, few customers ever pay this much for their smartphones. If signing up for a 2-year contract is non an issue there are plenty of loftier-end devices available at the $200 toll betoken, including Apple'southward popular iPhone four, T-Mobile G2, HTC Evo 4G, and the just-released Motorola Droid 2 Global. Take a look at our smartphone guide to find an alternative that suits you, and also continue out for the round of Windows Phone seven launches this month.

Radeon HD 6870 / GeForce GTX 460

The gift for PC hardware and gaming aficionados - $240 - $300

It's a good time to exist into PC gaming, with video menu makers rolling out their DirectX xi-enabled hardware, and game-makers scrambling to take advantage of the latest engineering. With a suggested price of $239 the Radeon Hard disk drive 6870 from AMD delivers the best value graphics card in the sub-$300 range, just Nvidia's GeForce GTX 460 remains a very tempting culling at its new $170 cost point, not to mention killer SLI performance. Either way you go your honey one volition certainly appreciate it, as both cards can handle pretty much whatever modern game yous throw at them.

Sony HT-CT150 Dwelling Theater Sound Bar and Subwoofer

Habitation theater sound in a single speaker - $300

Quality surroundings sound doesn't have to mean premium prices or bulky speakers and cables. If you're on a budget and yous are trying to detect a great souvenir for someone setting upwardly a small abode entertainment center, the meaty Sony HT-CT150 Audio Bar is the answer. One speaker unit provides iii audio channels while the slim subwoofer fits out of sight in nearly minor spaces. Complete with four HDMI ports (3 inputs, ane output), Sound Render Aqueduct back up, Dolby Pro Logic 2, Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, and 300W of power yous'll be hard-pressed to find a better choice in this price range.