Pens are certainly a popular "executive" gift, with exclusivity normally found in ultra-quality utensils from elite manufacturers. But with top end pens costing hundreds of dollars, the smart buyer isn't going to outmaneuver co-workers on price alone: Perhaps something a little more utilitarian would do the trick.

Like those overpriced writing accessories your colleagues are considering, the Super Talent ballpoint pen drive comes in a gift box. Perhaps it's not a leather-bound carrying case, but it still looks nice!

Just as you'd suspect, the top unscrews to reveal a USB thumb drive, uh, pen drive. Its 1GB storage is enough for quite a few office documents, but you'd be best advised against loading it with a copy of the resume you've just sent your company's chief competitor.

At 10MB/s read and 2MB/s write speed, it's breaking no speed records, but a few documents of a few hundred kilobytes in size will transfer rather quickly.

Super Talent's model PEN1G USB2.0 Ballpoint Pen Drive is available from $19.99 at a variety of online retailers.