Father's Day Gifts for the Tech Savvy Dad

It's that time of year again to buy for the guy who has everything. Some great new gadgets have been introduced in the last few months that will beat the Hell out of another tie or coffee mug on the big day.

1. Nintendo Wii: If you want to really impress Dad, there is one gift sure to show him just how hard you worked to find his present and that is to get him a NintendoWii . Last Christmas, when everyone was expecting Microsoft and Sony to battle for the coolest new gaming system, Nintendo came out of nowhere with a console that has revolutionized gaming. With the intuitive controllers that react to your motion, theWii has captured a large audience that is not just composed of wirey adolescents in dark basements, but includes the very young and very old. The Wii is said to help middle aged and elderly people stay mentally and physically active. And getting it for your dad might finally give you the chance to beat your dad at all those sports he tortured you with as a kid. You get bonus points if you are able to actually get your hands on aWii Fit. The Wii is available for $330 to $399 depending on the accessories included at Target, Amazon.com and Best Buy as well as your local electronics or gaming stores. The Wii Fit costs about $162, but is sold out everywhere I've checked online. There are waiting lists at my local Target and Best Buy.

2. The iRobot Looj: Finally, the makers of Roomba (and some pretty cool tactical robots used by the US military) introduce a product that will help with the yard work as much as the housework. TheLooj is iRobot's answer to the backbreaking work of cleaning gutters. The small remote control robot fits under gutter supports and has a one hundred foot range from the controller. It successfully removes leaves dirt and small branches. The Looj is available from iRobot for $99 and from Hammacher Schlemmer for $129.

3. Amazon Kindle: If your dad is both tech savvy and a book worm, the new Kindle from Amazon.com may be the perfect gift for him. This is the first electronic reader that doesn't make you feel like you're reading off a computer screen. The patented "electronic paper" display feels like you're reading from real paper. Also, this little device will allow Dad to buy whatever he'd like on the fly. You don't need a computer to download books, the device is wireless connected to a store containing more than 120,000 books. The kindle is available exclusively from Amazon.com for $359.

4. Digital Picture Frames: A relatively inexpensive gift for the tech savvy dad would be a digital picture frame, allowing him to display all 4000 pictures he took at the Grand Canyon last summer without all that pesky photo processing. These picture frames are essentially high def monitors, so they get more expensive as they get larger. Seven inch models are about $75 dollars, while the ten inch models will cost you about $150.

5. Satellite Radio: Satellite radio is great for those long nasty commutes. He can listen to Howard Stern in the morning, or hundreds of other channels to choose from. News, comedy, political talk radio, leaning both left and right, and every kind of music under the sun is available. XM and Sirius sell separate receivers, but the companies just merged, so soon, Dad may have access to channels on both networks. Receivers are available for the house, the car, in hand-held versions and even portable boom-box styles that can be taken anywhere. Prices range from $50 to $500 dollars, plus about $100 for car installation, and they're available at all electronics stores including Best Buy and Circuit City.