The Web is buzzing with holiday gift-giving guides for gadget lovers. I'm guilty of adding to the glut myself, with my recent "Head-Start Holiday Gift Guide" and "Gadget Gift Ideas," which recently appeared on PCWorld.com, Washingtonpost.com, and other sites.
And now for something a little different: The portable electronics you should not buy as holiday gifts. Here are two to get the ball rolling (with more coming in subsequent posts):
> iPod Touch--not for outdoors types. Apple's iPod Touch makes a great Internet tablet for around the house. It's a slick pocket video and audio player. But if your sweetie is an avid jogger, cyclist, or powerwalker, this is not the iPod for him/her.
In my experience, it's been a pain to switch playlists on the iPod Touch while running. To make matters worse, the screen often switches orientation on me when trying to change playlists while in motion. One second I'm in landscape mode, the next in portrait. It's just too much work.
Instead, for exercising, I recommend an iPod Nano (list: $149-$200). Even better, give them a Nano, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit ($29) chip (which calculates your distance, pace, time, etc.), and a pair of compatible Nike running shoes ($80-$120 or so). You'll still spend less than you'd have spent on an 16GB iPod Touch (which is about $400).
> iPod Shuffle. The Shuffle's biggest assets are its low price ($79 for 1GB) and ultra-compact size. And I can see its usefulness for someone who only wants to listen to podcasts, or one type of music, on the go. But because the Shuffle has no screen, users have to create one long playlist for all their music. And that's a pain for anyone who wants to switch music styles on the Shuffle. Also, my Shuffle has never gotten along with Windows Vista. In fact, I've had so many problems syncing my Shuffle with my Vista PC, I've stopped trying. My advice: Skip the Shuffle.
I've just finished testing the Magellan Maestro 4040 portable GPS for an upcoming PC World Mobile Computing column. Here's a quick preview of my review:
Like most portable GPS systems, the directions the Maestro 4040 gave me were OK, though not as good as what you'd get from a local. But it has a beautiful, vibrant 4.3-inch touch screen. Best of all, it's quick to locate a GPS signal, even after it's been turned off for weeks. Sure beats sitting around in a rental car parking lot, waiting for the GPS satellite signal to kick in. The Maestro 4040 comes preloaded with AAA tourbook information, which can be useful. Overall, it's a worthy GPS device, but its $500 price feels a bit too steep for what you get. 
Clip-on ties were big in the 70s. Today, we've got a new clip-on accessory--the GPS receiver.
The Garmin Mobile 10, which I'm currently testing for an upcoming Mobile Computing review on PC World's Web site, comes with a removable clip. The Mobile 10 works in tandem with Garmin mapping software, which you install on a Bluetooth-capable cell phone, PDA, or notebook. (The Mobile 10 is shown in the image below next to a Treo 650.) When connected via Bluetooth, the receiver and the mapping software on your handheld or laptop provide you with current location information and voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions.
With the clip, you can attach the Garmin GPS receiver to your belt, put your Treo or other handheld device in your pocket, and get hands-free directions while walking (or driving). The voice prompts, which are delivered through the audio of your handheld or laptop, are loud enough to hear, unless you're walking down a noisy city street.
The Mobile 10 is so small, few people noticed when I wore it. However, on one occasion, the GPS caused everyone in my vicinity to turn around and look at me. I had just joined a long line at my neighborhood Walgreen's when suddenly, a female voice, emanating from inside my pocket and loud enough for all to hear, told me to "turn right, then turn left."
I shrugged. "My mother's still telling me what to do," I said.
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