Great Gifts for Grads

Whether it's a coffee maker to keep them company while studying, a bag that keeps their gear powered up, or a favorite photo turned into a canvas print, each gift is sure to bring a smile.

Nespresso Essenza

For coffee lovers, the Nespresso Essenza creates fabulous barista-quality espresso at home or in the door room. Admittedly it’s a luxury item, but it will save on trips to Starbucks. For grads that like a great cup of regular coffee, consider the Bunn MC MyCafe ($88.72 on Amazon.com).
Price: $149.00 on Amazon.com

Big Jambox

Jawbone’s original Jambox wireless speaker is a very capable boombox at just 5.94” x 1.57” x 2.24” ($179.99 on Amazon.com). If your grad wants to fill a room, though, you’ll want to step up to the new Big Jambox, a larger (10” x 3.1” x3.6”). Like the original, the Big Jambox has speakerphone capability and can run on its rechargeable battery for up to 15 hours.
Price: $299 on jawbone.com

Powerbag Sling

Your grad won’t run out of power when she’s carrying the Powerbag Sling. This 3.75-pound backpack comes with a battery charger built-in that can power up phones and tablets. Pressing and holding the powerbag logo, turns the charger on and off and reveals how much charge is left in the 3000mAh battery. When the bag needs a charge, simply plug into a wall outlet. Additional batteries are available in 9000mAh, 6000mAh and 3000mAh capacities. Available in black, red, green, purple, blue and gray.
Price: $99.89 on Amazon.com

CanvasPop

CanvasPop will turn one of your grad's favorite photos into a work of art for his or her new lodgings. Select fun effects–black-and-white, sepia vintage-look, and postage stamp, to name a few–with the art filter options.
Retail price: Single panels start at 8x10 inches for $30. Dyptich (2 panels) start at two 24x18-inch panels for $125. Tryptich (3 panels) start at three 24x12-inch panel for $125. Quad (4 panels) start at four 18x18-inch panels for $204.

New iPad

A tablet will be a versatile addition to any grad’s life from note-taker to video player to gaming machine to digital camera. And with an office package like Quickoffice Pro ($14.99 in iTunes), the iPad can pinch hit as a laptop. For a less pricey option, consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 ($249 on Amazon.com).
Price: $499 for 16GB model on apple.com

Hard Candy Cases Stylus+ Pen

A traditional grad gift with a twist, this stylus and pen combo takes notes two ways. There’s a regular ink-tip pen on one end and a capacitive silk-tipped stylus on the other. A smooth chrome cap covers each end when not in use.
Price: $25.43 on Amazon.com

Treat.com Card

A gift card is always a good option when you’re not sure what a grad needs, but it can seem a bit impersonal. Treat.com puts that personal touch back in by letting you put a gift card code into a physical card you design and send. In addition to text, you can customize some designs with your own photos. When your grad receives the card he can choose from a retail gift card, to donate the amount to charity or get cash.
Price: $2.99 plus gift card value on treat.com

Looxcie LX2

Whether it’s mountain biking, strolling through the streets of Paris or attending a college game, your grad can share their view on life with the Looxcie LX2 wireless, hands-free video cam. Video can be streamed through an iOS or Android device or up to 10 hours of video can be stored onboard. The Looxcie LX2 can also serve as a Bluetooth headset. There’s a range of accessory mounts including a baseball cap clip and a vented helmet mount. For a more traditional camera, check out the Olympus SZ-12 ($149.99 on Amazon.com) or one of our picks in our Digital Camera Guide.
Price: $149.99 on Amazon.com