If your dad still loves great music, great movies, great sports or great gadgets, we've got the shopping list for you. Electronics says "Happy Holidays" so much more than that tie rack, that book or that screwdriver set. This is your chance to tell dad you still think he is a pretty cool guy. And you may get to use some of his pretty feature-filled electronics the whole year through.


Apple iPod nano (2nd Generation)

The new nano is the perfect way to show your dad that the second generation can best the first. And, if you give your dad the RED Special Edition, Apple donates $10 to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Very Bono.

The nano is a bit pricier than other MP3 players, all things considered. But it has the control that made iPod famous, so that dad can find the song he wants to play effortlessly. And Apple made the battery last longer for this new nano, allowing it to now play songs for 24 hours before charging it. That's a hard day's night.

Apple iPod nano (2nd Generation)

Creative Zen Vision:M MP3 Player

If you want your dad to think different, then get him a media player that is not made by Apple. The Creative Zen Vision:M has 30GB of memory and a screen that can display 262,000 colors with brightness and clarity.

Apple might be able to provide more content for the iPod than Creative can for the Zen, but the library is expanding every day. The music sounds great on this player, but the battery life is shorter than on the nano, and the controls aren't as intuitive. One last plus for dad: The Creative Zen Vision:M comes with a FM tuner. Old school.


Sony DCR-HC26 MiniDV camcorder

If dad is still carting out the VHS video recorder with the tripod for the holidays, you may want to get him a small, affordable MiniDV camcorder. The Sony DCR-HC26 is light, compact and fully featured, and it is a great starter unit for DV camcorders.

While the video captured by the DCR-HC26 is not the best available, if dad is moving from tape, it should be more than OK. And this unit is pretty easy to learn to use. This unit is the perfect model to get dad away from the old shoulder-mounted tape model and let him enjoy the party.


Panasonic VDR-D300 three-CCD DVD camcorder

Consider the Panasonic VDR-D300 if your dad is ready to step up to a top-performing digital camcorder. The video that this model captures is about as good as it gets in a consumer model, and the unit conveniently records to DVD.The VDR-D300 can be used out-of-the-box as a point-and-shoot model, so dad can capture images right away. But it also offers extensive controls that allow creative control, so that dad can become a serious videographer by the next summer vacation.Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD playerIf dad is already into the home theater experience, he may be ready for a DVD player that provides higher quality video and audio performance. The Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player is a great choice for a movie buff or a high-def fan.

One of the best features of this unit is that while an HD DVD movie is playing, dad can get the director's commentary on the scene without having to go through the menu. This way, he can learn tricks of the trade. And it's backward-compatible, so the unit will make dad's standard DVDs look better if he has a high-def TV to go with it.


Olympus Stylus 750 digital camera

Surprise your dad with a very thin digital camera that still takes great photos, such as the Olympus Stylus 750. This model has 5X optical zoom and 7.1 megapixels of resolution--impressive in a camera that measures less than 1 inch thick.

If you noticed some blurring in last year's holiday photos, the 750 may help remedy that situation. This model has a feature that ensures the proper amount of light, then boosts the shutter speed to help reduce image blur. So while dad may have a slow hand, the pictures will be crisp.


Sony DSLR-A100K digital camera

If dad is already into digital photography, he may be ready for an elite consumer model that will cost some money but will give him options galore. The Sony DSLR-A100K offers 10.2 megapixels of resolution and a dozen or more optional lenses and flash units to get professional-quality pictures.

With a model like the DSLR-A100K, you need to purchase a memory card with a lot of storage and probably a second battery. Despite the fact that this is not a light camera, dad will be happy with how comfortable it is to hold. More importantly, the images produced by the DSLR-A100K are outstanding.