Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Tablets & eReaders [Whether Getting A Samsung Galaxy Tab, An iPad Or The Nookcolor It's Hard To Go Wrong]

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Black Friday might be over, but if you are like us your holiday shopping is nowhere near complete. You still have that electronics buff to get something for on your list and even more horrifying, you simply have no idea where to even start. Well have no fear, that’s why TFTS is here! Today we’re bringing you the top 10 best bets for what the Tablet or eReader fan in your life might like.

iBooks Gift Certificates ($25 – $50)

With the sheer number of eReaders and Tablets already out there one should never assume that that special someone isn’t already set in this area. That is one reason to go out and get the iBook Gift Card. Another reason is that while you are probably going to be spending a pretty penny on most eReaders or Tablets, you can get the iBooks Gift Card in $25 or $50 amounts, and can of course buy as few or as many as you want. Of course this is really only a solid gift if they already have an iPad or iPhone. Of course if they do, they have the added bonus of being able to spend the gift card on almost anything in the iTunes or App store so they can get a book or comic, or a new app.

Archos 28 Internet Tablet ($99)

Tablets and eReaders rarely come as small and as affordable as this little device. Dubbed the Minidroid, this is essentially a tablet computer that is the size of an Android phone. There are apps to download and music to play on this little device with a 2.8 inch touchscreen display. It has full internet connectivity through a WiFi service and has Bluetooth accessibility too.

Amazon Kindle 3 ($139)

If you are looking for just a basic eReader that isn’t going to break the bank but will give that special someone on your list a great digital reader look no farther than the Kindle. The $139 model is actually the company’s third generation and with it comes a lot of polishing and improving. The Kindle 3 also has free 3G connectivity so you can download and read a new book even if you aren’t sitting in a WiFi hotspot.

Kobo eReader ($99 – $149)

Being one of the newest and least established eReaders on the market means that you might be able to find the Kobo for a great price. This eReader usually retails for around $150 but there have been sales that have seen it get chopped all the way to $99. Kobo looks and acts quite a bit like the Kindle but with its own book store you might be able to find a novel or two you can’t at Amazon. Kobo was also the first eReader company to allow you to gift books to someone who already had the reader.

Barnes & Noble Nook ($199)

Much like the Kindle is exclusive to Amazon, the Nook is the official Barnes & Noble eReader. Where the Nook has beaten the Kindle is in the touch screen that makes it slightly easier to navigate through the books or even surf the web on a WiFi Network.

Barnes & Noble Nookcolor ($249)

The newest must have eReader out there and it JUST got out there. The Nookcolor sports a seven inch color touch screen (the first of its kind in the eReader field) that allows you to better enjoy magazines and graphic novels. Barnes & Noble also has an exclusive program called “Lendme” that allows you to beam eBooks over to other Nook owners in you circle of family or friends.

Samsung Galaxy Tab ($349 – $649)

If the fact that the iPad does not have a flash player, or does not have a built in camera is a deal breaker for you; or if you simply don’t like Apple products, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab is the one you want. The Galaxy Tab is the top Android response to the iPad and is being offered by both AT&T and Verizon if you want to be able to use a 3G service. With contracts these can be quite a bit cheaper, of course you have to agree to pay a monthly fee to use the 3G for two years, so the lower initial price might not be worth it. I could tell you all the awesome things it can do, but as an added bonus we actually have a full review of this device on TFTS.

Apple iPad ($499 – $829)

The Mack Daddy of the Tablets, the iPad is still a great buy even though it can get a bit pricey. Of course the first plus of this device is that there are several different versions. The iPad comes with 16, 32 or 64 GB of memory and can either have just WiFi or WiFi and 3G connectivity. While some will point to no flash player on the device as a huge drawback, I have an iPad and I’ve never really missed it. Of course there are also ways around the lack of flash with an app or a way to control your PC. Of course, if you are going to get that special someone an iPad, you might want to hold off as the iPad 2 is rumored to be on its way to shelves shortly after the New Year.

While this certainly isn’t all the eReaders and Tablets out there, these are some of the best. And don’t worry, should you decide to get any one or more of these, we won’t tell whoever you got them for that you needed our help!

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