Father's Day Gifts for the Tech Loving Dad

Do you want to get dad something he will love rather than the old standby of a shirt and tie? Here are some gift ideas for dad who loves electronics and other "techy" items.

Give dad a new way to show off pictures of his favorite kids with a digital photo keychain. These keychains are available for under $40 and hold approximately sixty photos of dad's sweethearts. They are available at many chain stores or specialty electronics stores. Make his Father's Day memorable by giving him all his favorite photos right in his pocket.

Chances are dad has an MP3 player or I-Pod. Does he have a stack of old vinyl albums that no longer get played? He can now easily convert those vinyl records to MP3 files with a turntable featuring a USB port. Dad plays his albums, the software converts them to MP3 files, then dad can plug in his MP3 player and down load his favorite vintage tunes. You can find the turntable on Brookstone's website for $150. Give dad the gift of his "golden oldies" for Father's Day.

Does dad have a collection of flash drives, but never has one available when he needs one? Now he can keep a flash drive with him at all times. Pens and watches now have USB drives built into them. These gifts are affordable, starting at $30 for a one gigabyte pen up to $90 for a two gigabyte watch. Dad will never be without his favorite tool again. Check out the Edgetechcorp website for information and ordering details.

Is dad directionally challenged or does he just enjoy playing with gadgets? Does he spend a lot of time traveling? A Global Positioning System (GPS) may be the perfect Father's day gift for him. Systems vary in price, portability and features. If dad is an outdoor enthusiast or hiker, a wristwatch style GPS may be the right type for him. If he will primarily use it in his vehicle, a system that mounts on the windshield, but still has portability may be the best option for him. Popular brands are Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan. Basic units feature turn by turn directions, visual maps, and can help locate points of interest such as dining, gas stations and shopping. More deluxe models include XM radio capabilities, and some allow you to download different voices to give you the directions. Units vary greatly in price averaging $150 - $200 for a basic unit, up to $1000 for a deluxe model. Units are available at most popular chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy.

If dad likes to be connected at all times, a Blackberry or I-Phone may be the gift that will make you his favorite this Father's Day. Both items allow him to be connected to the internet at the touch of a button, send and receive e-mail, make phone calls, take pictures, or just about anything else he wants to do. An I-Phone ranges in price from $400 - $500 plus the monthly plan fee of $60 - $120. They can be purchased on the Apple website or at an Apple store. Blackberry devices and plans vary greatly in prices. View the Blackberry website for information on how to find a retailer and pricing for your area.

Get dad a gift that is sure to make him happy on Father's Day and something that he uses on a regular basis, instead of languishing in the back of his closet or dresser drawer.