Some high-tech gadgets could be perfect gifts this holiday season
By Jonathan Takiff
Knight Ridder Newspapers

Some families are plagued with the question of what to get the person who already has it all.

To their rescue comes this extended selection of techy treats, all worth giving or getting this holiday season.

Stocking stuffer: Home compact disc “burners” will get a kick out of Verbatim’s new Digital Vinyl CD-R discs. While recording like a conventional CD blank, the rubbery feel of the disc’s top side apes the groovy qualities of an old-fashioned 45 rpm record. The discs list for $12.99 in a 10-pack, though they sell for less at Target and online sources like (Expercom.com).

All power to ya: Users of portable devices hate to get caught with depleted battery cells in the middle of a morning jog or lengthy airplane flight. Help them out with the Digital Battery Checker from C. Crane, $17.95. Small and easily deployed, it gives an accurate read on the power status of the most popular 1.5V button-cell and 9-volt batteries. 707-725-9000 or (www.ccrane.com).

Let there be light: There are no batteries to wear out in Forever Flashlights from Excalibur Electronics. Using the Faraday principle of electromagnetic energy, all you do is shake the flashlight for 15-20 seconds and its super-durable, blue LED light bulb glows for five minutes. Waterproof, too (and it floats!), this miracle-worker comes in small ($29.95) and large ($39.95) sizes. Info at (www.excaliburelectronics.com).

Developed by photobiologist John Ott, the lamps are built around rare-earth phosphor bulbs designed to simulate natural daylight. Desk and floor-standing Ott-Lites sell for $70-$270 at Sears and Office Depot. Info at (www.ott-lite.com).

Game geared: For the PlayStation2 devotee, a great new accessory is the Network Adaptor ($39.99). It lets them go online for network game play with either broadband or narrowband connectivity choices. Games already out that work with the device include NFL GameDay, Twisted Metal: Black Online, Madden NFL 003, Sega Sports NFL 2K3 and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs.

New for GameBoy Advance fans is the plug-in e-Reader ($29.99). Used to scan data imprinted on e-Reader cards, the device downloads complete games like Pinball and Donkey Kong Jr. and expands the horizons of cartridge-based games like Animal Crossing.

My first Gizmo: Entertaining and educational for elementary school kids are the Leap Pad (first to third grade) and Quantum Pad (third to fifth grade) Learning Systems from LeapFrog. Both are $49.99 and use interactive, audio-enhanced books that work with solid-state memory cartridges triggered by the user’s touch-pen actions.

Suck it up: Some might think it Scrooge-ish to suggest a vacuum cleaner as a holiday gift. But if it’s the Roomba intelligent floor vac from iRobot, we’re talking something very special. Sit back and watch as this round, low-slung robotic helper literally runs itself, methodically circulating around a room, slipping under furniture, cleverly avoiding obstructions and stairs, and doing a surprisingly good pickup job in the bargain.

Intended for bare floors and low-pile carpets, Roomba cleans three average-size rooms before its battery needs recharging. $199 from Brookstone, Sharper Image, Hammacher Schlemmer. (www.irobot.com).