Mark Hurst is a recognized technology and user experience expert, who writes a (now) annual guide to good technology and other gifts, called Uncle Mark’s Gift Guide and Almanac. There are good recommendations on things to buy for others, or for yourself, at a wide variety of price points.
It’s a great guide for a lot of reasons, but one of the best is that he doesn’t weigh you down with unnecessary choices. For example, there is only one digital camera on the list, he’s used it for two years, and has very specific reasons why it’s the only one he recommends.
Note to others: this is not a hint for what to buy me for Xmas. I already have all the things in this guide that I want. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.