USB Toaster box
No, you can't really make toast on your computer. But wouldn't it be great if you could? Don't you have a co-worker who eats breakfast at his desk who would think that was just the best idea ever? Well, put whatever your real gift is inside this USB Toaster box ($8) from The Onion and watch his excitement grow ... and then fade.
It's the thought that counts, right? Why not give a gift that's nothing but thought?
Price: US$7.99 Summary: A gag gift for those who love to eat breakfast at their desks. Jake Widman
Seven gifts under US$50
Not everyone's getting a plasma HDTV this year. Try these budget-conscious gifts instead.
USB Chocolate MP3 Player
Everyone's got an iPod. But how many people do you know with a Chocolate MP3 Player?
This tiny music player is more or less the size of an Apple iPod Shuffle. It's brown, with a white top that features four cryptic symbols for controlling music -- forward, back, volume up, volume down -- represented by two people, a dog and a rooster (hey, don't ask us -- we just report on these products, not design them).
The USB Chocolate MP3 Player (US$39) holds 2GB of music, and weighs just 12 grams. It plugs into your USB port for both music transfer and recharging.
The USB Chocolate MP3 Player is tiny and looks awesome. Just don't eat it.
Price: US$39
Summary: The tiny USB Chocolate MP3 Player plugs into your USB port for both playing music and recharging.
Mike Elgan
USB-Powered Mini Greenhouse
This US$20 kit from Geeks.com comes with soil, seeds, software and a USB-powered greenhouse pod. The software has a calendar, so you can track events in the life of your marigolds. The USB cable powers a grow light, which points down from a height-adjustable arm.
Of course, you can reuse the Mini Greenhouse, using your own soil and seeds to grow herbs, other kinds of flowers or just about anything. The light will stay on as long as the computer is powered up and the Mini Greenhouse is plugged in.
Price: US$20
Summary: Nurture a green thumb with the USB Powered Mini Greenhouse, a PC-powered environment for growing flowers on your desk.
--Mike Elgan