Decorating Guides
Gift Guide: Gadgets Go Retro
20 gift-worthy add-ons give your smart phone or tablet the look of an arcade game, boombox, Etch-A-Sketch and more
Even some self-described early adopters out there find themselves missing the days of simpler technology. Whether he's poring over records and cassette tapes or she's staring longingly at used book stores with a Kindle in her purse, odds are you know someone who loves the designs of the past. Here's a roundup of 20 holiday presents that are perfect for the nostalgic techie in your life.
iCADE - iPad Arcade Cabinet
Before there was Farmville, Angry Birds or Call of Duty, there was the arcade game. This is a great gift for an iPad-toting friend who still talks about that high score on Super Mario Brothers.
JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick
Have a friend who still gets stuck playing Pac-Man at the pizza parlor? Run any game on an iPad, stick the JOYSTICK-IT on and get an instant '80s flashback.
iPhone 4 Gameboy Cover
Who didn't love the Gameboy? Let your game-loving friends relive their glory days with this playful iPhone 4 cover.
For the friend who was first to get a car phone, let him channel his inner Gordon Gekko with this flashback phone case.
Tip: Tell him to use Siri when using this case and give passers-by a double take.
Tip: Tell him to use Siri when using this case and give passers-by a double take.
POP! Handset
For your chatty friend who loves long phone conversations, try convincing her to switch things up a little and give her iPhone a landline-style handset like this …
Handset Dock Stand for iPhone 4
… or like this! These receivers can be much more comfortable than using the iPhone for lengthy conversations. Plus, there's no need to wipe the ick off the screen when you're done chatting.
MP3 Alarm Clock Docking Station and Speakers
A modern take on an old-school alarm clock, this dock serves as a clock, iPod charger and speaker. It's a great gift for a music-loving teenager with a tendency to sleep in.
Alarm Dock
Give this alarm dock to Mad Men-obsessed family or friends with a flair for Don Draper's mid-century style.
RetroFit TV Box
If you know a TV lover who's been forced to catch up on shows via an iPhone or iPod touch, the RetroFit TV Box may be the perfect gift. Just slide a phone or iPod touch into this clever little cardboard contraption for an instant mini retro TV.
Give one of these quirky and classic book cover iPhone cases to a literary lover who has become a reluctant eBook reader.
Pride & Prejudice E-reader case
Know someone who loves the Kindle or Nook, but misses the smell and feel of a good book? Slip a favorite e-reader into this clever case for the best of both worlds.
BookBook Case for iPad - BookBook Case for iPad - Twelve South
Get the same feeling of a good book in your hands with this stunning vintage inspired iPad case from TwelveSouth.
Ipad Newspaper Print Cover
If you know someone who's been sad about the struggling newspaper industry, cheer him up with a Kate Spade iPad cover covered with cheeky classified ads.
Moleskine Tablet Cover & Volant Notebook (iPad)
Give this luxurious Moleskine tablet cover to the writer in your life. The inside is covered in soft faux-suede, and the inside back cover has a sleeve to hold a Volant notebook. The notebook may be reversed to accommodate right or left-handers.
Giant Pencil Touchscreen Stylus
If you have a friend who misses the days of pencils and notepads, this giant pencil stylus will help her get a better grip on texting and gaming.
Etch-A-Sketch iPad Cover
Do you know an early adopter who remembers when the Etch-A-Sketch was the most high-tech thing he owned? Let him have his cake and eat it too with this quirky Etch-A-Sketch iPad case.
Boombox iHome iPod/iPhone Docking System
This iPod dock and speaker system is a great gift for the '80s and '90s music lover in your life. Plug a phone into the dock at the next holiday party and blast out all the best tracks.
FunkyFonic Cassette Tape Speaker
This one's perfect for a friend who wants to relive the days of the cassette without the piles tangled tape. This speaker amplifies music from an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Cassette e-Reader and iPad pouch
If your cassette-nostalgic friends have an iPad or an e-Reader, give them this simple and soft carrying pouch.
So it might not be that retro, but this keyboard is a brilliant modern-day version of the flip-out keyboards we've all known and loved. Give this to the extreme texter in your life to save some seriously embarrassing auto-correct mistakes.
More Gift Guides:
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40 Stylish Gifts for the Home Office
More Gift Guides:
50 Great Gifts Under $50
50 Great Gifts for Coloristas
40 Stylish Gifts for Modern Men
40 Stylish Gifts for the Home Office