Gina Hughes: The Techie Diva [Bio]
It's almost time to head back to school, and well, it's never too early to start shopping for those school supplies. If you have some extra cash left over after shopping for backpacks and number two pencils, then treat your kid to some cool electronics you can borrow from them later. You won't find any real essential items on this list, but if you're looking for inexpensive must-have gadgets, then check out the list below and treat your teen to gear any high school student can only dream of.
Acer Aspire One: Netbooks are great for many reasons, but parents will love them because they're extremely affordable and light compared to the average laptop. They're also ideal for students who don't quite need a computer, but want one to do research, check email, or just surf the Web. These days it seems every company out there is launching its own mini-notebook, but Acer's Aspire One stands out because it sports an Intel 1.6-GHz Atom processor, a decent keyboard, an 8.9-inch display, two memory card slots, two USB ports, 8GB of internal storage, webcam, WiFi, VGA port and ethernet jack. The standard model runs Linpus Linux Lite, but if you're not ready to make the switch, you can buy the Windows XP model for a little extra. This stylish notebook with its glossy cover is available in pink, blue, white, and brown starting at $379.
Sony iPod Speaker Dock: Give your teen the motivation they need to wake up in the morning with an iPod clock radio. What's different about the Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 is its compatibility with both iPod and iPhones, which is a rarity among iPod systems. This multi-functional device features a built-in iPod dock, a remote control, AM/FM clock radio, dual alarms, a built-in speaker system, and the best part is, it's compatible with most iPod models. You can find a black or white version for the low price of $99.
Fuji FinePix Z20fd: This sub-$200 digital camera is the perfect accessory for any high school student. Available in five eye-catching colors, the FinePix Z20fd is a 10-megapixel camera with anti-blur, picture stabilization, face detection, red-eye removal and a large 2.5-inch LDC monitor on the back. Media savvy kids will appreciate the camera's blog and auction mode, as well as the "one touch" movie recording option which allows them to edit movies before sharing them online. This is definitely an affordable camera for photo-enthusiasts of any age.
Mimobot: 
USB flash drives are all pretty much the same, but if you want to treat your teen to a hip flash drive, check out Mimobot.com. These guys have designer toy drives for Star Wars fans, Tokidoki lovers, and everyone else who can appreciate one-of-a-kind designs from contemporary artists. Each drive is packed with cool wallpaper, digital magazines, icons, and screen savers that resemble the Mimobot's character. You can find them in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities ranging from $35-$100.
Samsung S2: Regardless of what your teen will tell you, there are other music players out there way more affordable than the iPod and packed with plenty of great features. Samsung's S2 MP3 player is stylish enough to wear around the neck, and small enough to take to the gym. The pebble-sized player features a smooth pebble-like surface on one side and playback controls on the other along with LED lights that flash according to the playback mode. It is available in five colors (red, black, white, purple, and green) in capacities of 1GB or 2GB all for the low price of $40 or less.
