Date Published: 05/31/2007

Father's Day is all about getting Dad the cool gear that makes him happy. If your dad is plugged in and wired for action, Consumer Guide and HowStuffWorks have rounded up the perfect gifts and electronic gadgets to make his day a great one. From the best in home theater systems to enhance his video experience to a digital picture frame so that the ones he loves can always be with him, these gift ideas will make your father an appreciative parental unit.


Treo 700p smartphone

Father's Day means comfort, whether it is a wool sweater or, in this case, the Treo 700p smartphone that comes complete with a backlit QWERTY keyboard and broadband speeds for e-mailing. There is an impressive 4GB of memory, so your dad can listen to the latest tunes (or, at least, recently downloaded files of oldies hits). And this is a unit that has kept ergonomics in mind, so if your dad is catching up on some office e-mail while sitting at home on the deck, he will continue to be comfortable.

Treo 700p smartphone

Motorola HS815 Bluetooth Headset

Continuing the comfort and communication gift theme for dad, the Motorola HS815 Bluetooth Headset is a comfortable fit for a phone headset. The unit is bigger than many similar headsets, which means that it fits more comfortably around larger ears. This unit provides hours of comfort, with about 3.5 hours of talking time and 80 hours of standby, so this workhorse is always ready to be used. Your father will really appreciate the move up to a nice, comfortable headset.


Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise Canceling Headphones

For all of those dads on the move--especially frequent fliers--the Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise Canceling Headphones are snug because they fit on the ear, rather than surrounding the ear like other noise canceling headphones. This added comfort does not mean that dad will have to give up the sound quality of other units. The Bose QuietComfort 3 unit sounds great, and its active noise-canceling technology virtually eliminates background hubbub.


Denon DHT-487DV Home Theater System

A fine way to cut through the daily grind is with a great-sounding home theater system, and Denon really delivers with the DHT-487DV. The pieces of the system fit together beautifully to create a solid and affordable unit. The best part is, this is a true component home theater system, unlike most of the other systems on the market today. This added flexibility does not add to the cost, as the price of the DHT-487DV is comparable to an all-in-one unit. Perfect for dad's den or the family's TV room, this system can be upgraded to incorporate additional components later on.

Sony KDL-52W3000 52-inch LCD HDTV

Sony' s KDL-52W3000 LCD HDTV could be what your dad is wishing for. The whole 52-inches of screen make this TV easily visible from dad's favorite couch or recliner. Sony's Live Color Creation and image processing enhance shows or movies viewed, along with the 24p True Cinema technology for improvement of movies in relation to their frames per second. In addition to the outstanding picture, the KDL-52W3000 comes with bottom mounted speakers, surround sound, Dolby digital and several output/input options.

JVC Everio GZ-HD7 Hard-Disk HD Camcorder

Another rather large step up the video ladder is the JVC Everio GZ-HD7 Hard-Disk HD Camcorder. This camcorder is the first consumer model to record in full 1,080i, giving it unparalleled picture quality. Sure, that level of resolution eats up a lot of memory, but JVC figured it out: The GZ-HD7 records directly to a 60GB hard disk that stores up to five hours of shooting in the highest resolution. An added bonus is the professional-grade Fujinon lens with 10X optical zoom. If dad is interested in shooting the best video possible, the JVC Everio GZ-HD7 is a good as it gets.


Creative Zen Vision:W Widescreen Digital Audio/Video Player

If you're looking for a portable video player, take a peek at the Creative Zen Vision:W. Movies on this MP3 player look great. This player's wide-format screen provides a resolution of 480x272 pixels and the ability to display over 262,000 colors (compared to the iPod's 65,000). The Vision:W is also a fine music machine, with eight equalizer presets, a built-in FM tuner, and a voice recorder. The Vision:W is a solid unit, with a tough metal shell that clumsier dads will really appreciate.


Garmin nuvi 660 GPS System

For dads with hectic work and life agendas, it can be tough to stay on schedule. For help staying on course, the Garmin nuvi 660 portable GPS system provides voice-guided navigation, current traffic alerts, and Bluetooth compatibility. The GPS receiver finds your position rather quickly, then figures out the best route you should travel. The course selected is accurate. Simple-to-follow on-screen navigation is backed up by voice navigation, and the nuvi 660 speaks the actual names of streets as opposed to the more generic instructions that most other units employ. This unit features digital audio playback, a picture viewer, and an FM transmitter as well. The Garmin nuvi 660 helps move your dad ahead.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi

Canon Digital Rebel XTi

If dad is ahead of the pack of amateur photographers, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi is the complete package: nice value for SLR digital, outstanding response times, superlative high-end resolution, and LCD quality that owns the market for a consumer model. This model has a 10.1-megapixel resolution, which ensures photo prints that will rival large format film cameras up to 13x19 inches. The model also has an Integrated Cleaning System (ICS) that eliminates the dust problem common with SLRs. If dad has used Canon cameras in the past, he'll appreciate that this model can make use of all Canon EF lenses. If you already have Canon lenses available, the Digital Rebel XTi is a tantalizing value.


Philips Digital Picture Frame

For another excellent value, the Philips 9FF2CMI/37 Digital Photo Frame can show off about 100 standard-size digital photos of the family, without a computer. This model can show the images in a slideshow, thumbnail view, or full-screen browse. The picture quality is brilliant, and the photos never looked better than framed with this model. Help dad get all of those great pictures of the family that he's taken over the years and that are hidden away on his hard drive, and get them to where everyone can enjoy them.