Top 10 Black Friday and tech deals for the busy engineer

By Jean-Jacques DeLisle, contributing writer

Engineers are busy. This is especially true during the holiday season, when planning family holidays, vacation, and end-of-the-year deadlines all come crashing together. Engineers also like tech and paying the least for the most. It’s just simple optimization. If it’s for gifts or for saving time during the hassle of the holiday season, these deals could help you save time and money.

Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle

During travel to family, winter vacation travel, or for just relaxing, e-readers can help keep our minds stimulated and engaged with the latest books. This deal from Amazon on certified refurbished Kindle Paperwhites and Essentials Bundle not only knocks $40 off the top but also comes with a $15 e-book credit.

Lenovo Desktop Computer IdeaCentre Y710 Cube-15ISH Intel Core I7 6th Gen 6700

A powerful desktop is a must for the latest engineering software and to have fun during work breaks. With more engineers working from home, a fast and inexpensive upgrade to the home office computer may be in order. This Lenovo IdeaCentre deal puts a quality 64-bit Intel 6th Gen Quad-core processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, 1 TB HDD, 128 GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 in your hand for $550 off regular market price. As an added bonus, this rig is easily portable and comes with built-in 802.11AC wireless LAN capability.

Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen

Having owned a Nest Learning Thermostat for two winters and a summer, I can attest that the time savings and peace of mind is a strong selling point. If multiple trips to the thermostat to accommodate the craziness of the holiday season, not to mention the wildly inconsistent weather, isn’t your thing, the discounted Nest thermostat might be!

LG 27MU58-B Black 27-inch IPS (GTG) 5ms LCD 4K Monitor

Moving from a low-resolution display to a 4K monitor drastically improved my productivity and my ability to rapidly switch between tasks. I have also noticed that coding, 3D modeling, and working with PC-based USB test instruments are all much easier with the accessibility that a 4K monitor brings. ThisLG 27-inch IPS 4K display  is a great deal to replace an aging 1080P display.

Denon AVR-X2300W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Wires are a way of the past! A great accompaniment to a nice new 4K TV would be a full 4K UHD A/V receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. With a great Black Friday deal and a convenient remote control app for both iOS and Android, this A/V receiver could be a great gift or just a key to ultra-crisp family entertainment.

ANNKE 8CH Security System 720P DVR 1080P NVR Video Recorder and (4) 1280TVL Weatherproof Surveillance Cameras

Security can save time, especially when it’s time spent worrying over security. Many security systems with cameras are expensive to buy and complex to operate. This is not the case with the ANNKE 8 CH Security System with four included weatherproof surveillance cameras, and now marked down from $299 to $89, it’s an easy decision to make.

Certified Refurbished Amazon Echo (1st Gen)

Another certified refurbished deal from Amazon, these 1st Gen Amazon Echos can be had for a $95 markdown. This leaves a perfectly functional smart home hub, speaker, and entertainment system costing only $69.99.

Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike

Let’s not kid ourselves about overeating during the holidays or the associated holiday season deadlines. With savings listed on Amazon around $260, the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike is a compact and affordable solution to staying fit in the face of temptation.

Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum

Messes will be made this holiday season and the following years to come! Keeping things tidy could take away much of the valuable time off with family. However, a rapid-cleaning and easily maintained vacuum, such as the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum , can help minimize the time spent cleaning and maximize the time spent having fun with family. Current listed with savings of $150 and free shipping with Amazon Prime.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 13” and 15” and the Microsoft Surface Studio with Surface Dial

Though not technically a Black Friday deal, the new Microsoft Surface Book 2s and Microsoft Surface Studio could be a gift or productivity computer upgrade that you have been looking for. I own two Microsoft Surface Book 1s, for my wife and I, and we use them extensively as travel workstations and as portable workstations. For general computing, coding, 3D modeling, and working with PC-based USB test instruments, I have had no issues using the older models. With the recent upgrade and introduction of the Surface Studio, these new machines could provide a sleek new multi-purpose work station solution.

Looking for new engineering and tech gift ideas? See Arrow.com’s Ultimate Engineering Gift Guide for 2017.