Tech gifts for grads (2013)

Graduation day. A time of reflection. A time of hope. And a time to really cash in on your parents before they realize what a total disappointment you?ll be. And for parents, if you?re shopping for a graduation present right now, the question you should be asking yourself is, ?What can I buy them that they won?t be immediately pawned on eBay?? I?m Donald Bell, and in this Top 5 I?m counting down the best tech gifts for grads. Starting off at #5: the JBL Charge Bluetooth speaker. This thing just came out a few weeks ago and jumped right on to our list of Top 5 Bluetooth speakers. $150 gets you some big sound in a compact package, 12 hours of rechargeable battery life, and a USB port on the side for keeping your phone charged. Comes in a bunch of colors, which means you?ll probably pick the one color they hate. Of course, a Bluetooth speaker isn?t going to do them much good if they?re getting by with a crappy phone. So coming in at #4: the HTC One. This is one of the most stylish Android phones you can buy and it crammed full of some serious tech. Quad-core processor, 1080p screen, Android 4.2, and some killer camera features. Especially if your grad is setting off on a job hunt, you can?t send them out there with that old iPhone with the cracked screen. Give them a fresh start. But if you really want to set them proper, get them a new car. Our #3 pick on this list is the the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. If your kid?s driving an old beater, it?s just a matter of time before they?re going to ask you for a reliable set of wheels -- and that?s just what this is. You can drive on off the lot for 22 grand. It?s a safe car, especially if you get it in safety cone orange. But when it comes to bang for your buck, nothing is going to make them happier than a new TV. #2 on this list is the Vizio E320i- A0. It?s a 32-inch LED LCD TV that is a crazy good value at around $300. And it?s a Smart TV, so you get direct links in to Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon, and even Skype. Excellent picture quality for the price, and if my 20s are any indication, this will probably be the TV they own for the next 10 years. Finally, for the #1 tech gift for grads, I?m saying laptop. Our Editor?s pick is the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500. Whether your kid is graduating from High School or college, chances are their current laptop is around 4 years old and after that last term paper, they never want to see it again. This one from Lenovo is powerful enough for anything you want to throw at it. Whether it?s games or video editing, or padding their resume, it will keep them going for at least the next four years. So there you have it, five great picks for any young graduate, or even the old ones. For more suggestions, check out our complete list over on CNET.com I?m Donald Bell, thanks for watching.