Tech toys and electronics are usually at the top of holiday gift wish lists. They can be pricey, but many are surprisingly affordable -- a boon in a recessionary shopping season.

Some people just want a simple, no-frills way to check e-mail on the road, without the extra camera/phone/music player capabilities. The Peek ($99.95, plus $19.95/month for service from www.getpeek.com) is a sleek, mobile e-mail device with an easy-to-read screen and full keyboard that comes in several colors. It works with common e-mail accounts such as Gmail, Hotmail. Yahoo, AOL, Verizon and others.

More and more mobile phone users are opting for smartphones -- a phone that also serves as a web browser/music player/PDA. According to a Kelsey Group study, 18.9 percent of mobile phone users now have one, and another 49.2 percent plan to buy one in the next two years.

Palm offers both a low-cost and a high-end alternative to iPhone and the Blackberry, two of the most popular models. The Palm Centro ($79.99) works on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon networks and is available in an unlocked GSM version through retail stores and online at www.palm.com. It comes in two new colors -- olive and rose. New features include Facebook for Palm and Google Maps. Sprint is currently offering the phone in older Centro colors (red, pink and black) for free with a two-year service contract.

At the higher end, the Palm Treo Pro Smartphone ($549), is a new Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional-based phone, and includes e-mail, Wi-Fi and GPS.

The new touch-screen Blackberry -- Blackberry Storm ($199.99 plus new two-year contract through Verizon) -- features phone, e-mail, web browser, GPS, still and video camera, and links to social networking sites like Facebook.

For cell phone users who just want a reliable, no-frills mobile phone, there's the Pantech Breeze ($80 with two-year AT&T contract), which has large buttons and easy-to-read onscreen display. For those who like the frills, the ClarityLife C900 ($269.99) has sound amplification and an easy four-button control pad and emergency button.

The tech geek on your list might like these clothing items: Etre Touchy gloves are knitted gloves designed for people who use touch-screen devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch and devices with small keypads while outdoors. The thumb and forefinger are missing, allowing the user to make contact with their touch screen without taking the gloves off. They're available from London, England-based Etre (www.etrytouchy.com) for $22.35, which includes shipping.

To complete the ensemble, add the 180S Ear Warmer Headphones ($34.95), a pair of fleece/Thermolite/Polartec earmuffs equipped with JVC mini-speakers. They're available through Hammacher-Schlemmer and PalmFlex.

Renting movies keeps getting easier and easier. Blockbuster has introduced a new, convenient way to rent online. The MediaPoint digital media player ($99), which connects to a TV and to the Internet, can stream movies through Blockbuster OnDemand. Movie rentals start at $1.99. Right now, the box is basically free: Blockbuster is giving them to people who sign up for the service and agree to rent 25 movies for $99.

Netflix also offers a set-top box from Roku ($99), which connects to the home network and streams Netflix TV and movie content to TVs. Netflix subscribers can choose from the 12,000-title Netflix library and watch their choices instantly at no extra charge -- the streaming movies are included in their current subscription plan.

The TV junkie with plenty of money can get it all in one package: the Allio HD TV/PC ($1,599) combines a Blue-Ray DVD player, digital video recorder and PC with a 25-gigabyte drive. Now you can watch TV shows on demand via Web TV sites like Hulu and Joost on a 32-inch TV screen instead of a monitor.

There are cheaper ways to watch Web TV in the comfort of your living room, however. The SlingCatcher ($299), combined with a wireless network connection, enables users to send their PC screen display to the TV.

For those who are looking for alternative forms of transportation, or those who would ride bikes more if they didn't have to peddle, here's the ultimate gift: the Optibike OB1, a battery-powered electric bike equipped with GPS ($13,000 at www.optibike.com). They're only manufacturing 24 a year.

Who wouldn't want a robot to help with the housework? iRobot (store.irobot.com) has a fleet of them: the Roomba robotic vacuum ($129.99 -$149.99), along with a Pet Series equipped to remove fur, kitty litter, dust and pet dander ($349.99-$399.99); the Scooba 380, a floor washer for hard surfaces ($449.99); the DirtDog ($129.99), a high-tech workshop vac for basements, patios and industrial floors; and the Looj ($99.99), which will take care of the gutters.