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Top 10 Tech Toys to Blow Your Tax Refund On

computerworld.com — Sure, you could squirrel that cash away, put it toward savings or retirement, or commit some other unnatural and responsible act. But why not treat yourself to something unnecessary and electronic?

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  • frooo, on 03/29/2008, -3/+47Anyone want to buy some magic beans?
    They're Magic beans 2.0 - they have firewire and bluetooth connectivity
    • Terr01, on 03/29/2008, -1/+11Warning: Strange old man Inc. is not liable for misuse of the security "features" in the product, including but not limited to: Cross Site Scripting, SQL injection, Code injection, and predatory Sky Giants.
    • therearenorules, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Are they wheelchair compatible? I was thinking of buying some for Wheelchair Dude.
    • nickerbocker, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2Well I'm selling Magic Beans Air. They are smaller and lighter and only have one port.
    • jeff303, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1My Old Fashioned Snake Oil is now 100% compatible with the Apple® iPhone™
  • glennybee, on 03/29/2008, -14/+4Ooo I really like the keyboard! But as you say, no way would I pay $460 for it!
    http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk
  • mnugent, on 03/29/2008, -2/+7wont be getting any tax refunds but i do want a home robot!
    • DucoNihilum, on 03/29/2008, -2/+1I'm a college student. My tax refund is like, 300 dollars.
      • jonmlm, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1guess you win
      • foofightrs777, on 03/29/2008, -4/+2I'm going back to my university dorms the week these checks get mailed out. This is going to be the most epic topshelf kegger ever on Uncle Sam's dime.
        I'm rich bitch!
    • woodwindguy24, on 04/08/2008, -0/+0I definitely want a robot. No money though!
  • rexona, on 03/29/2008, -1/+20gadgets or beer, gadgets or beer, gadgets or beer............gadgets! no...wait..beer...but.....
    • cquinnd, on 03/29/2008, -0/+30Buy a Beer making gadget...
    • chrisaug18, on 03/29/2008, -3/+2How about a little from column A and a little from column B to maximize your fun
    • hartley, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2Just remember, beer never goes obsolete.
  • jm4847, on 03/29/2008, -12/+5Yay for those of us who work and don't pay taxes.
    PS: Not in the US; so suck on it!
    • phybere, on 03/29/2008, -2/+9Yeah, because your government doesn't cost money to operate?
      • nycmac247, on 03/29/2008, -1/+3no personal income taxes for the longest time and the gov't worked just fine.
      • jm4847, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1That has nothing to do with what I do.
    • ross., on 03/29/2008, -1/+1Because your government has oodles of cash out the back from all your countries oil?
  • buddyw, on 03/29/2008, -3/+15Meh...
  • jm4847, on 03/29/2008, -6/+37Also lol @ consumist idiots. Save the money morons. Or buy something USEFUL.
    • Hangly, on 03/29/2008, -2/+10Better yet buy something that will hold it's value. It's gonna be a rough year.
      • DucoNihilum, on 03/29/2008, -0/+5PSSST 3 month bonds... PSST.*

        (You actually lose money to inflation right now, but you lose less than you would otherwise lose.)
        • jeff303, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Umm or you could buy an inflation indexed fund, a Euro deposit, or simply gold.
    • emailingRob, on 03/29/2008, -2/+2How about that Logitech 'Air' Mouse? Was mentioned on digg, and only around $150 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mi ... Affordable and useful!
      • jm4847, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3You know what my mouse costed me? $50, and it included a keyboard (both wireless). I admit, that was wasteful, but not as much as the one you mention.
      • doshindude, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2useless.
        • specialK16, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Actually I would love to have one of these, these I just can start Media Center go to bed and control the ***** from there. Also, these would work wonders for presentations at work, college, etc...

          *looks at price.

          Forget it.
    • hartley, on 03/29/2008, -0/+9Yeah.. I'm going to save my money to not buy stuff.
      I have a few savings plans already. My tax return is to forget how much the government is ***** me, and buy myself a little something nice.
      • LeopardGirl420, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Saving mine too! Take that economy!
    • ElMoselYEE, on 03/29/2008, -2/+6i wouldn't be so quick to call the people spending their money "morons", the money is, after all, supposed to stimulate the economy...and that's best done by spending money.
      • jm4847, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2Care about yourself first, then about yourself, then about yourself a few more times, and then about the rest of the word. If at all.
    • demodawid, on 03/29/2008, -0/+4But.. but... It's so unnecessarily expensive!
  • leonardoty, on 03/29/2008, -0/+8Exactly how much are you making on your tax return to afford these things?
    • mywhitenoise, on 03/29/2008, -2/+1$700, plus the $600 rebate. None of those interest me, though.
    • johnpaul191, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1yeah, if you are getting a refund of thousands of dollars, then you might be doing something wrong as you pay taxes throughout the year. granted this list has stuff for $150. maybe it would be better reprinted in May with the headline of "what to put that $600 check towards".
  • Acglaphotis, on 03/29/2008, -7/+3Optimus Keyboard...*drools*
  • peestandingup, on 03/29/2008, -5/+5This is assuming you even get a tax refund. I just LOVE paying them double. Once when they take it out of my check & also at the end of the year. Sure, its not like I would do anything with it, you take it. Especially now that the economy sucks & the dollar is hanging on by a thread. My government needs it more, right??.

    Feels good to know that my money is going towards meaningful things too, like "liberating" Iraq.
    • Ravatar, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1I'd rather pay than get a refund. Paying means I didn't pay as much as the next guy, and got to invest or otherwise save that money and earn gains on interest like the government did for that poor sucker getting a refund.

      Starting a business is a pretty handy way to reduce taxes as well.
  • djdingo, on 03/29/2008, -1/+19Average taxpayer getting back $2,300?!? I'm getting back $200, WTF?
    • chrisaug18, on 03/29/2008, -6/+2I'm getting $2000 but I am a student so I probably get back a higher percentage
      • DucoNihilum, on 03/29/2008, -0/+132000?! WTF kind of student are you?
        • chrisaug18, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2A student in a coop program, for 2007 I had two work terms thus I made around $12000 before tax.
    • phybere, on 03/29/2008, -0/+18Buy a house and have a few kids.
    • melonhedd, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2It's better to have a small refund.
    • ross., on 03/29/2008, -0/+10Someone out there is getting $4400 thanks to you, you statistical anomaly you!
    • johnpaul191, on 03/29/2008, -0/+6massive refunds often imply your withholding is off... assuming you work a normal 9-5 job where they take it out of your check. if you are a freelancer with write-offs and expenses, then it can get more complicated.
    • TomJohn, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1OMG WtF LOL
    • dukeochutney, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1that means u did it wrong..
    • bdbr, on 03/29/2008, -0/+8$200 back just means you managed your exemptions better than the average American. The average American loans the government $2,300 interest-free every year.
  • Comp1demon, on 03/29/2008, -2/+4I wouldn't blow any cash on any of those gadgets. Use your average $2300 and pay a bill or your creditcard - you know your going to have to.
  • doppler00, on 03/29/2008, -1/+9Isn't this how most of the U.S. got into debt anyway? I for one am putting the $600 directly into a Europe or Asia mutual fund since the dollar is going to continue to fall.

    This $600 isn't even a big deal to me considering I'm probably paying an equivalent in $1,200 in taxes and lost dollar value to pay for other people to get their checks and i'm only in the 25% tax bracket.
    • crexor, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2I bought a Ruger P90 with my tax refund. And 100 rounds of American made ammunition. Thats economic stimulus, American style.
  • aris1, on 03/29/2008, -1/+6I would digg but I already have 2 of all of those things
    i'm a consumer whore
    all I need now are some friends
  • MagicBobert, on 03/29/2008, -0/+14I don't know about you, but my "refund" came out in the red. I owe the blasted fed more money.
    • Philodox, on 03/29/2008, -0/+14Believe it or not, you're better off than people getting refunds. You got an interest free loan over the course of the year. In my case I gave the government an interest free loan over the course of the year. If you had invested the amount that you owe, you'd have made a profit.
      • MagicBobert, on 03/29/2008, -1/+3It's $106. It's not that bad. :P
      • OverlordXenu, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1Wait, what?

        Also, aren't you on some audiophile forum?
      • jeff303, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Exactly. It's for that reason that you should at least estimate whether you will get a refund or owe as early as possible in the year. Then if you owe, wait as long as you can to file. If you get a refund, file right away, get the refund, and invest it.
  • DeadlyAlpaca, on 03/29/2008, -2/+20Pretty terrible list, overall.

    Imho, obviously.
    • DJDee85, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1+1...And I've been looking for something to blow my refund money on too :/
  • influenceuh, on 03/29/2008, -0/+16Or pay off credit card debt.
  • oddbydesign, on 03/29/2008, -4/+5PS3 for me.
    • dekuscrub, on 03/29/2008, -4/+2Me too. And yes, blu ray is a huge factor for me.
  • Hangly, on 03/29/2008, -2/+14The economy is crashing, so let's blow our refunds on toys! That's just brilliant, that is.
    • chrisaug18, on 03/29/2008, -1/+17Its better than saving it until its worth nothing
      • Hangly, on 03/29/2008, -0/+6You could buy precious metals, foreign currencies, or best of all: food and firearms.
      • robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2Offshore banking.
    • TomJohn, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Oh, you're just a Gloomy Gus!
    • skidooer, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Do you have a better way to turn around a crashing economy?
      • Hangly, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Better than spending your money on disposable consumer electronics? Yes, just about anything else would be better. Including putting the cash in a mayonnaise jar and burying it in the backyard.
  • blankoboy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+4Looking at the current economic state one might want to save their tax refund than "blowing" it so that they can eat in 6-12 months.
    • tnoy, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1Except that it will be worth half as much in 12 months. Spend it now while the dollar is still worth something.
      • blankoboy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Yeah, but more canned food now! =)
  • hollyminkowski, on 03/29/2008, -1/+3That camera was pretty sweet.
    60 frames in one second is nice.
  • xsquirrel378x, on 03/29/2008, -4/+6PS3 is about the only thing i want off the list, everything else is pretty much useless to me
  • subxero37, on 03/29/2008, -1/+19"Let's face it. The reason your digital pictures suck has nothing to do with the number of megabytes in your camera. Even if you had a 30MB camera, you'd still capture your wife blinking..."

    A 30MB camera? Does this guy know what he's talking about?
    • whatwhatwhoa, on 03/29/2008, -2/+9obviously mocking the lack of technology literacy in the average consumer.
      • bradleyland, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Obvious? Really? I think he meant megapixel, but had a mind fart.
    • Alix7, on 03/29/2008, -3/+2lol, e-illiteracy
  • peterjmag, on 03/29/2008, -2/+18I stopped reading after they called megapixels "megabytes" in the camera's description. *shudder*
  • Paperthin, on 03/29/2008, -2/+1Actually it's more reasonable to use the money to stimulate the econonmy instead of having it stagnate.
    • robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3So corporate/government mismanagement and corruption can continue to prosper on the back of the middleclass?
      No thanks.
      • Paperthin, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1uhh no, if you've taken entry-level macronomics you'd know that the business cycle is fueled by the ciruclation of money. It goes Spend-->Increased Demand--->More Workers to Provide for Demand--->Stagnate for whatever reason--->Purge--->Spend. Or something like that. that's the keynesian model which is what most of our economic policies lie on. and now you're going to say something about how the policies suck but they worked very well in the 20s and 50s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian_theory#Exce ... for more info.
    • andreo, on 03/30/2008, -0/+1Nah, that's what my "stimulus" check is for. Shame it will be going on the huge propane bill that I have instead.
  • jimjoke, on 03/29/2008, -0/+5What if my refund is non-positive? D:
  • PathDaemon, on 03/29/2008, -0/+6That Casio EX-F1 is a ***** beast... why haven't I heard of it???
  • AmICoolNow, on 03/29/2008, -2/+2Most of these are fairly stupid things to buy...Bicycle GPS? PS3? Race Simulator?
    Though, the high-speed camera seems pretty cool.
  • chinolofus, on 03/29/2008, -2/+3i'll pass on a $1000 camera made by casio. if the technology is as good as it claims then canon or nikkon will use it soon. then you can pick up a real camera with it.
    • Psythik, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Considering that not only does it take pictures, but it also functions as a 1200FPS high-speed cam, AND an HD camcorder, $1000 is a damn-good deal.
      Purchasing all those things separately would end up costing you WAY more than $1000.
  • kaffein, on 03/29/2008, -1/+28Gas.
  • uncommonwords, on 03/29/2008, -6/+3GTA IV is not on the list.
    Buried
    • bagboyrebel, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1GTA IV isn't a tech toy, which I take to mean a gadget.
  • uncommonwords, on 03/29/2008, -5/+0sorry for the double post
  • scabbers, on 03/29/2008, -1/+11Give it to your children, seeing as they'll be paying it back.
  • dshey, on 03/29/2008, -3/+1Where's the Pleo? I found myself going OOOHHHH, AWWWW, YEAH.....OOOOOHHHH
    • andreo, on 03/30/2008, -0/+1I bought the kid (11yo) a Pleo for Christmas. He and the rest of the family was interested for about a day. As a test I put it up in my room for a week. He didn't even ask where it was. It was returned before the return policy was up and nobody even cared that it was going back.
      However the Christmas programing that could be downloaded was cool. But after the second time he went through the songs nobody was sitting around to listen to him.

      For $300-$350 less it would have been a nice impulse buy and it would still be in the house.
  • robthom, on 03/29/2008, -3/+5This gets the front page on the verge of a possible reccesion.
    Lol.
    • FireSlash, on 03/29/2008, -1/+5Buying stuff = Stimulating economy = fighting against recession.
      • robthom, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1I see.
        Does it also fight skyrocketing interest rates, damaged credit, bankruptcy and personal and national debt.
        You may still have money to ***** away on the latest toys but I have to work for a living.
        • dylanbr, on 03/29/2008, -0/+0That's the idea.
        • regeya, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2Well, consider this.

          With oil consumption going down in America due to prices, our trade deficit is dropping.

          With ***** wheat crops around the world, exports are up--further drop in trade deficit. Our own stores are low, though, and traders are pumping money into commodities, so price is prohibitively high and supplies are limited. Extreme bummer on several counts.

          The only thing keeping the trade deficit going up with anyone, really, is the further need for foreign oil (good luck plugging THAT leak any time soon :-P) and the fact that China keeps raising interest rates to keep their currency lower in value than ours. Now, they had a pretty ***** winter too, and they've got a lot more people to feed. If you don't know what I'm getting at here, I have two words for you: winter wheat. Now, they can either repeat the tragedy of the Great Leap Forward and let people die, or they can agree with what other international trade partners are barking at them to do and lower their interest rates to level the playing field a little.

          I seem to remember that there's an international event happening in their country, too, and that they've already been getting bad international press for police action in Tibet, toxic children's products, poisoned food, and bad medicine.

          Not to mention that with their currency so undervalued, oil's getting mighty damn expensive.

          Did I mention anything about their economy being dependent on people buying their cheap crap?

          And that there are any number of bubbles which could burst in several global markets. England had their own housing bubble burst, and the Euro keeps slipping a little at a time.

          There are so many wild cards in play right now it's impossible to know what's going to happen. For the short term I'm extremely concerned but in the long term not so much. May all our fears of a Great Global Depression be unfounded.

          And may we move away from conspicuous consumption after this debacle is over.

          And may we not let all these clueless a-holes keep us from pursuing alternative engery.
      • jeff303, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1You forgot fighting terrorism
  • allyant, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2I can dream....
  • gaoshan, on 03/29/2008, -2/+3I'm getting $1,800 under the current setup and every penny is going into covering much of the year's IRA contribution. I'm already a pretty frugal guy and the thought of investing an extra $1,800 warms my cheap heart. Though, for the record, I think the whole rebate idea is poorly considered and not the best way to help the economy. I'd suggest maybe ending the war in Iraq and then perhaps ending the war on drugs as better ways to actually help. Then start encouraging people to learn to save more and spend less. I mean, my wife and I earn not very much money at all but we own a nice house, two cars, live in a decent school district and save about 30%. Yeah, seems impossible I know, but that is the problem... it really isn't. but most Americans don't get that.
  • pauled, on 03/29/2008, -1/+4This is a lame list...
  • HanSolo69, on 03/29/2008, -1/+2How much did the government pay them to publish this?
  • NonLeftistDiggr, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3Watch out, it's a NMPA! Run!

    FU needlessly multi paged article, try to trick me with your scroll wheel lies of being a one piece page, I denounce you and your kind, I can survive the withdrawls, watch me!

    I've been noticing more and more people are flaming articles solely for being in this format, maybe it's a movement.
  • Wargalas, on 03/29/2008, -2/+2That's right everyone, take your borrowed from future generations money and blow it on crap made in another country. It's this typical short sightedness that permeates the Democratic party. How about you pay down debt or invest it?

    Idiots.
  • utore, on 03/29/2008, -2/+1interesting.
  • triskele, on 03/29/2008, -5/+8Buried for MacBook Air. Buy a real computer.
    • scotishstriker, on 03/29/2008, -1/+5I don't trust any website that tells me to buy a macbook air
  • Porbeagle, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1I'm digging that GT3 racing chair, it looks sweet.
  • LOVEANDEQUALITY, on 03/29/2008, -7/+0#11 NINTENDO Wii!

    #12 NINTENDO DS!

    #13IPOD TOUCH!

    #14 SCION

    #15 THE UPSTAGE PHONE!
    • hartley, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2If this is sarcasm, I love it!
    • robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3#16 Styrofoam cowboy hats and pinwheels.
    • PathDaemon, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2#17 New keyboard with non-stuck shift keys.
    • bagboyrebel, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1#18 NGAGE
      wow, I feel dirty for even joking about that.
  • mogebier, on 03/29/2008, -7/+3They lost credibility with me when they said the ***** and the crapBook Air.
    • boxybrzown, on 03/29/2008, -1/+4Whoa, you stay up all night thinking those up? Sick burn, man.
  • Kumah, on 03/29/2008, -1/+8Do NOT save that money, damnit! The whole point of the economic stimulus package is so there will be more cash flow in our economy! One of the (many) reasons our economy is hurting is because more people are saving and being responsible with their money and our economy is not ready for that.
    Go spend the extra money you get, and save the money that you usually set aside.
    • kahrytan, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1But they have to save. They ***** themselves buying houses and cars over their budget. The economy is blamed on the /'people'/ (and by people i mean citizrens) making dumb and stupid mistakes and now they are paying for it.
    • bubba9999, on 03/29/2008, -0/+4You're kidding yourself if you think that the "economic stimulus package" is going to be anything more than a band-aid. You can't delay the inevitable.

      But go out and spend it if it makes you feel better. Buy something edible just in case.
      • dylanbr, on 03/29/2008, -1/+0Recession is a natural occurrence of the business cycle, of course it's inevitable. BUT we are going into a recession, not a depression like you make it out to be.
    • regeya, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1Eh...even if people pump the money into, say, their credit card bills, it still helps the economy. The crisis is in the banking sector, and this adds to the "liquidity."
    • troopa, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1Go ahead and save your money. Rest assured that most Americans will spend their band-aid money and go further into debt, because that's what our society does as a whole.
    • theonesteve, on 03/31/2008, -0/+0My $300 "stimulus" check is going to save the economy?

      Seriously, $300 is an insult. The government trying to buy my confidence with such a paltry sum is ridiculous. Though I guess I'm more upset that my tax money is being used to fund people who intentionally live on credit.
  • tnoy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1I know someone that needs to spend it on learning how to design a webpage that doesnt need me to click next a bunch of times just to look at one article.
  • cbegin, on 03/29/2008, -0/+0Is it just me, or was that a bunch of random uninteresting crap we've seen before, all thrown together to advertise PriceGrabber.com? Just sayin...
  • antdude, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1One page: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?com ...
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