Is it really so hard to find a great gift for a guy? Technically, no. It’s a great year to go with a gadget. (And to nudge him out of his risk-averse grooming zone.) Reporter Chad Schlegel gets us inside the mind of the modern man with his sample top 5 wish list.
1. Sony DPP-MP1 Digital Photo Printer
Making the leap to digital photography this year? Good for you, but if Grandma’s not as high-tech as you are, you’ll need a way to print the shots you take. We recommend this 11-ounce palm-top printer. It takes about 90 seconds to print full-color, photo lab-quality, 2-by-31/2-inch images (smaller than you’re used to). If you have a Sony digital camera, you transfer photos by inserting its Memory Stick media card into the printer. Otherwise, connect the printer to your PC or Mac using the included USB cable. Photo paper starts at $19.99 for 24 prints–not to be used wantonly. But when the picture’s worth it, you have it.
2. Nike long-sleeve Dri-FIT T-shirt
Designed to wick away sweat and regulate body temperature, this lightweight microfiber top is perfect for running on chilly days. But it’s also great for less athletic endeavors, say, watching football on the couch. Or he can wear it out on the town with a track jacket and cords. The ultimate selling point: If there’s no time to do laundry, it can be washed in the sink and dried in an hour over the shower curtain rod.
3. Philips KEY006 MP3 player and iTunes gift certificate
Philips’ KEY006 128MB digital audio player may not hold as much music as an iPod (does anyone really need 10,000 songs during a workout or commute?), but it costs half as much and, at less than 1 ounce (and the size of a pack of gum), is six times lighter. It stores up to two hours of CD-quality music and plugs directly into your computer’s USB port, so there’s no cable clutter. And unlike other mini-MP3 players, it won’t gobble batteries–it recharges while it’s plugged into your computer for up to 6.5 hours of playback.
Pair it with a gift certificate for music downloads from iTunes, available in increments of $10 to $200 at apple.com, and he’s set.
4. Pioneer DVR-810H-S DVD Recorder/Player with TiVo
Finally, TiVo devotees don’t have to decide which rerun of “The Simpsons” to erase when their unit’s memory is full. In addition to recording programs and pausing and rewinding live TV, this combination TiVo-DVD recorder/player allows users to burn DVDs of their favorite shows, keeping its 80GB hard drive free for short-term storage. Each disc can hold one to six hours of video, depending on resolution. It comes with basic TiVo service, but we recommend splurging on a TiVo subscription ($12.95 a month), which lets you browse and set your unit to record shows up to two weeks in advance (TiVo Basic allows you to browse only three days in advance). Also, the enhanced TiVo subscription lets you search shows by actor, title, keyword and more. $999.99 (before $50 rebate) at Best Buy.
5. Kiehl’s Multi-Purpose Facial Formula for Men
Men Who Moisturize (and most do these days, right?) will appreciate this all-in-one face-saver. Vitamin E moisturizes, natural clay minerals absorb excess oil, eucalyptus extract soothes razor burn, and micro algae battles free radicals. The coolest ingredient: caffeine, to refresh and awaken the skin. Recommended for all skin types.
For the overworked, some down time
– RELAXATION ON CALL: Is your workaholic man too busy to get a massage? Give him the gift of relaxation in the comfort of his very own office. Hired Hands Massage will travel anywhere in Chicago (office, home) armed with massage table and stress-relieving hands. $85 per hour for table massage, $27 for 30-minute chair massage. www.hiredhandsmassage.com.
– PUTTER PARADISE: Don’t let a little old blizzard get between your man and his golf obsession. Buy him five hours of practice time at Park District Indoor Golf Dome in Buffalo Grove. A five-hour pass is $75. 847-459-2321.
