12 Cool Geek Gifts for Under $30

There's always a time and a place for cheap gifts. Secret Santas, family members you don't like, exes and others always need a gift, but just because you don't want to spend more than $30 on them doesn't mean that the gift has to be really terrible. Click the Continue link below to check out 12 ideas for cheap gifts that can knock the socks off anyone not worthy of your real money.


12. I-Dog Amp'd
The I-Dog is the closest thing to a robot available for less than $30. You simply plug a music player into it and the I-Dog will produce stereo sound through the built-in speakers. It'll also wag its tail, which also happens to be the volume control, and tap its foot to the beat of the music. It's great for any kid who's overly obsessed with his or her MP3 player, yet still young enough to enjoy a toy dog. It's available for $29 from Toys "R" Us.


11. Digital Voice Recorder Pen
Co-worker of yours never able to remember to do something? A Discovery Channel Digital Voice Recorder Pen may be the perfect gift — just don't let the office pen freak take it during the White Elephant gift swap. This pen can record up to a minute of voice data through the included microphone and play it back instantly through the internal speaker. The brushed stainless steel design makes it look like it has a bigger price tag than the $19 it actually retails for at Amazon.


10. USB Humping Dog
Gag gifts can be the hardest to shop for. Nobody wants to spend a lot of money on something with two, maybe three laughs out of it before being retired to a junk drawer forever. The USB Humping Dog does essentially that. No flash memory, no other features — it just humps and humps until your USB port calls the cops. And at $15 each, it's a cheap not-HR-approved gift from AC Gears.


9. Sirius InV Satellite Radio Receiver
Normally something as great as a satellite-radio receiver would be higher up in a gift guide, but there's a catch to this. The InV is a low-end satellite radio receiver that is available for $19, but the catch is the monthly service. Sure, it will only cost you $19, but you're bestowing a monthly fee onto another loved one after the first free month has expired. Proceed with caution on the satellite radio receivers. The InV with included vehicle kit is available directly from Sirius.


8. Kingston 1GB microSD & USB Reader Mobility Kit
Sure, this sounds lame on paper, and will likely look lame upon initial opening of the gift, but it isn't. With many phones using microSD for expandability and many other gadget using SD — this is a gift that people need, they just don't know it. It is essentially a 1 GB microSD card, but it includes a variety of adapters that can transform that microSD card into a standard SD card, or even a USB flash drive. Pretty useful, don't you think? It is available from Buy.com for $19.


7. Flying Alarm Clock
For that person always late to work or class — a flying alarm clock. This clock includes a propeller module that will spin off of the base when the alarm goes off. Accompanying the flying module is a shrieking, siren-like alarm that will not be disabled until the flying unit is placed back into the alarm. Annoying? Very. But at $29 from Firebox, it's perfect for that person who's never on time.


6. Sansa Shaker MP3 Player
There are plenty of cheapo MP3 players available, but you don't want to be that mean person that gives a $15 MP3 player acting like it's as good as an iPod Touch. One of the shining gems of cheap MP3 players is the Sansa Shaker. This 512MB player includes an internal speaker, two audio jacks and can be controlled by shaking or by using the unique twist knobs. It is available for $29 from Target.


5. Palmsize R/C Helicopter
It may look like a kid's toy at first, but this is something that all ages can enjoy. It is a palm-size remote-control helicopter that's fun to fly around, annoy pets and just entertain yourself more than anything. It operates with a remote via infrared, requires six AA batteries and will fly for five to seven minutes after a 15-minute charge. It's available for $29 from Thinkgeek.


4. USB TV Tuner
Like the microSD card, people would love to own USB TV tuners, they just don't know it yet. Tuners have significantly come down in price recently and this version from Sabrent includes a remote and plenty of inputs for other devices. A tuner essentially turns a PC or laptop into a television capable of watching and recording live television. This model is available from Tiger Direct for $25.


3. Nike + iPod Sports Kit
The Nike + iPod kit is the essential, must-have accessory for any iPod nano owner. It includes an adapter that connects to the dock connector of the nano that communicates with another adapter placed in the shoe. It will then keep track of all information kinds of information like time, distance, pace, calories burned and more. It can then sync with a computer and track all of the workout data. It is available from Apple for $29.


2. Sony MD-EX71SLA Fontopia Earbuds
It's tough to find a solid pair of noise-isolating without requiring a mortgage is tough, but Sony's Fontopia line of headphones provide the best bang for the buck in noise-isolating headphones. A 9mm driver provides the sound, which I was much impressed with upon using myself, and it also includes three pairs of different-sized silicone earbuds to increase noise-isolation and adapt to different ear sizes. These earbuds are available in white from Amazon for $29.


1. USBCELL Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are a staple of any cheap holiday gift. These USB rechargeable batteries are far better than traditional rechargeable batteries. USBCELL batteries include a hidden USB port for recharging. No more trying to hunt down the charging cradle, just dock the batteries in a couple USB ports and wait. A pack of two is available for approximately $17 directly from USBCELL.