Hot tech gifts for the nerdy boomer

Give ‘em or buy ‘em with your gift cards

by Paul Lima

It is more blessed to give that to receive. This Christmas, like many others, gift cards will probably be on your shopping list. And you just might receive some too! Many gift cards will, undoubtedly, be used to buy digital technology. With that in mind, BoomerLife has some tasty tech toy suggestions for those gift card dollars.

Digital Cameras

High-end digital cameras, like the 12.2-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A700, now rival the single-lensreflex film camera. The DSLR-A700 has exceptional auto-focus precision and manual focusing, a high-performance vertical traverse shutter with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8,000th of a second to freeze action shots and separate slots for lots of digital photo memory. Discerning photo enthusiasts will be impressed with the rugged camera construction. The DSLR-A700 camera body, DT 16-105 mm lens and DT 18-250 mm lens will cost about $1,400, $580 and $550, respectively. The DSLR-A700K kit, with an 18-70 mm lens costs about $1,500 and the DSLR-A700P kit, with the 16-105 mm lens, will set you back about $1,900. More information: www.sonystyle.com/retail.

If your gift cards don’t quite add up to these figures, consider the Olympus SP-560 UZ. The 18x wide-angle zoom is great for travel or family shots. The camera has manual exposure settings that experienced photographers appreciate but it’s also an easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera. A sequential shooting option lets you take action shots; dual image stabilization provides for clean shots. You can add an underwater housing unit, waterproof up to a water pressure equivalent to 40m depth. The camera costs $499.99; the underwater housing unit is $379.99. More information: www.olympuscanada.com

You can spend still less and give (or get) a quality digital camera, such as the HP Photosmart R742. The R742 features an all-metal body that slips into almost any pocket or purse. Easily snap 7-megapixel photos and view them on the bright 2.5-inch image display screen. With 13 shooting modes, a 7x zoom, in-camera red-eye removal and easy-to-use shooting modes, this camera helps users to take great shots. Price: $149.99. More information: www.hpshopping.com.

Cellphones

Almost every boomer, every boomer’s kids (and even some of their grandkids) have cellphones. However, if you are looking to upgrade and you get one of those wonderful gift certificates, you can’t go wrong with the Sony Ericsson K850 Cyber-shot phone, with a built-in 5-megapixel digital camera. The camera includes auto focus, zoom and Xenon flash — all in a slim design that still lets you slip your phone into a pocket or purse. The K850’s BestPic feature lets you take pictures in rapid succession of moving objects to ensure you get at least one good photo. (As with any digital camera, you can then choose the best and delete the rest.) But why stop with images? You can also shoot and play short videos or play music and podcasts. Display photos on the K850’s 2.2-inch crystal display or use high-speed wireless to upload pictures and video clips to your image or video blog. Share your content with the world, or at least your immediate family and friends! The phone — I did say that it was a phone, didn’t I? — also includes a speakerphone, push email and text messaging, an FM radio, a sound recorder, a calendar and task manager. As of press time, pricing had not been announced. However, pricing for cellular phones often depends on the airtime package. More information: www.sonyericsson.com/us.

Apple set the cellphone industry a-buzz, first, with the long anticipated introduction of its iPhone in June, and then with its iPhone price reduction — just in time for holiday season. Apple lowered the price of its popular 8 GB iPhone to $399 (from $599), even though the company was on track to sell its one millionth iPhone just three months after its introduction. The iPhone combines three products in one small hand-held device — a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod and Internet access (email, web browsing and maps). The iPhone features up to eight hours of talk time, six hours of Internet use, seven hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback. The iPhone includes a user interface based on a multi-touch display that allows users to control the phone with a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers. More information: www.apple.com/iphone.

Other Fun Tech Items

Of course, so much more is available to you or the propeller head on your gift list: PCs and notebooks from HP, Dell and other manufacturers; iMacs and MacBooks from Apple; webcams for anyone who wants to engage in video email and video chatting online. How about software and games and … well, the list is endless. But I suspect the amount you have to spend is not. So spend wisely and enjoy your new tech toys.

The gift that gets Boomers exercising both mind and body

Are you looking for something to bring out your inner child and make the exercise you need more fun at the same time? Nintendo® is getting the Boomer — and everyone else — involved with its Wii™ interactive video game system.

First available in November, 2006, the PC based interactive gaming system created more of a buzz with non-gamers than the usual teen and young adult crowd. From Wii Sports™ offering interactive golf, tennis, baseball, bowling and boxing to Wii Boogie™, everyone gets off the sofa and into the game.

To help gamers keep their New Year’s resolutions, Nintendo® plans to release the highly anticipated Wii Fit™ which includes yoga, stretching, balance exercises and monitoring BMI (body mass index) some time in January 2008.

website http://e3nin.nintendo.com/wii_fit.html - touts the game as a way to provide a “core” workout

Paul Lima has been a professional writer and writing instructor for over 25 years. Since 1988, he has run his own communications business and often writes clearly about the latest technology.