Outstanding Tech Gifts You Didn’t Get–But Wish You Had

You ripped through all the wrapping paper and your gifts are now in a neat pile. But instead of these socks or that weird red and green sweater, wouldn’t you really rather have received more shiny tech gear? Read on to gaze upon our picks for presents we didn’t get either.

You Might Also Enjoy:

The Top 10 Video Games of 2010

Innovative Digital Camera and Smartphone Camera Accessories

The 30 Most Anticipated Tech Products of 2011

The best spec for this sexy 3D HDTV from Samsung is the width: 0.31 inch. That’s pretty darn close to the definition of whisper-thin in my book. The fact that this LED TV can stream movies from Netflix, TV from Hulu, and YouTube videos using Samsung’s apps geared for the TV is a bonus, as is its ability to sync with your camera, TV, and other mobile devices.

HP’s answer to the Macbook Air, the Envy 14 is beautiful, has great performance, and is a joy to use. Our reviewer, who gave it 4.5 stars out of 5, says it is a powerful, attractive laptop with an attractive price. What more could you ask for?

If you are a serious audiophile or a professional musician, then you may grieve that you didn’t get the Ultimate Ears 18 Pro set popped into your stocking. Here’s probably why you didn’t: The $1350 price tag. And if you did get them, did you get the engraved case and cleaning tool accessories?

Jaw-dropping performance. Sleek good looks. Ungodly expensive ($7000!). Isn’t that all anyone really wants to brag about in a gaming PC? This one has it all.

Almost a million Apple TV and competitor Roku TV streaming devices have been sold, so how come you don’t have one in your stocking? These and other competitors are heightening interest in cutting our dependence on cable TV. Chant with me: TV! The way we want it, when we want it!

Comparison Chart on Major Streaming Devices

Wow, our hard-boiled reviewers don’t often call tech gear “gorgeous,” but that is just what they said about this high-powered PC. Here’s what else they said: “Offering the highest general performance we’ve seen to date, the Genesis is arguably worth the arm and leg that Origin is asking for it.” Whew!

But it would look great on your desk, right?

We have to admit that, although most editors at PCWorld have Droids or iPhones, many of us are curious about Windows Phone 7. And the sleek Samsung Focus smartphone with Windows Phone 7 (available through AT&T) is drool-worthy. It’s got a beautiful AMOLED display, a slim design, and a solid camera. Hmmmmm.

Okay, I’m speaking only to serious geeks on this one. It is the nerdly desire of our most geeky editors to be gifted with an (as yet-unavailable) Google CR-48 laptop running the new Google Chrome operating system. PCWorld’s first look confirms that you probably have a “I Void Warranties” T-shirt in your closet if this is high on your “WANT!” list.

This unusual camera brings together the best of both the SLR and the point-and-shoot camera worlds in a small body. Its features include a 14.6-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a 25-point autofocus system, and a 7-frames-per-second burst mode, a lot more than you get in most small cameras. And when it comes to image quality, the NEX-5 performs like a DSLR. Exposure, color fidelity, sharpness, and image noise are quite good. Come back with one, Santa….