Electronics sizzle as gifts

Digital cameras, PCs, games are hot

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, December 3, 2007

The Garmin nüvi 750 GPS highlights millions of points of interest such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and more.

The HoMedics Brethe Air Revitalizer neutralizes odors by sending out an "intense rain forest mist" that encapsulates the odor.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 digital camera has a "smile shutter mode" that will catch your subjects when they’re smiling.

The H-P TouchSmart IQ775 PC is meant for the whole family and can double as a TV.

This travel clock with temperature is engineered to keep better time than the old-fashioned windup types — and without that annoying "tick tick tick tick."

The iRobot Scooba 350 floor-washing robot is designed to cover 500 square feet on one charge. It uses a four-stage cleaning system to prep, wash, scrub and squeegee sealed hardwood, tile and linoleum floors.

Demand has been unexpectedly strong for the Nintendo Wii.

A wag at Amazon.com has just the holiday greeting for you techies on the prowl for newfangled gifts.

"It's Merry Geek-mas," quipped Paul Ryder, vice president of consumer electronics at Amazon.com.

However you celebrate the holidays, Rocky Tech is here to help with all things geek . . . and offbeat.

We're offering up a variety of gift tips from a PC for the whole family to a robot that does cleaning duty to a travel clock that tells you the temperature.

To find out what's popular and to get some holiday picks, we checked with gurus at Amazon.com, Yahoo! and elsewhere.

Digital cameras, personal computers, and iPhones and iPhone rivals are hot this season.

We also found that GPS receivers and all things gaming are sizzling - and, in the case of Nintendo's Wii gaming console, a little too sizzling.

"The Wii is going to be the hardest gift to come by this holiday season," warned Yahoo Tech blogger Christopher Null.

Nintendo way underestimated the Wii's popularity.

"They weren't ready for the demand," Null said.

If you can get your hands on a Wii, good for you. And if not, Null suggests other gifts.

Among his favorites is a little robot that washes your floors. Null, the father of two young kids, has test-driven the iRobot Scooba 350 robot.

"It's great," said Null, who puts the Scooba to work while he drives his kids to school. "I come home and the house is clean."

Null also likes an "air revitalizer" that zaps nasty odors by dispatching "an intense rain forest mist" that washes the air and gives off a pleasant aroma.

"We just run it for an hour and it will keep the room smelling fresh for several days," he said.

Ryder of Amazon.com said digital cameras are continuing to gain in popularity.

He called the cameras "very giftable," noting they sport more and more features.

We liked the idea of a camera engineered to ensure your photos are happy photos. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 camera has a "smile shutter mode" that will snap the image when people crack a grin.

What better way to deal with Scroogelike family members or friends? They may even thank you later.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 digital camera

Here's a possible antidote for grumpy friends and kids who find it tough to smile when you ask them to say "cheese!" This slim camera has a "smile shutter mode" that will catch your subjects when they're smiling. All you have to supply is the laugh line. The 8.1-megapixel camera has a sizable 3-inch LCD and a touch-screen menu.

* MSRP: $299.99

* Web site: sonystyle.com

H-P TouchSmart IQ775 PC

This personal computer with a touch-screen monitor is meant for the whole family and can double as a TV. You can check the weather, edit photos, and leave personalized written, voice mail or video notes on the PC screen. It also has a built-in webcam, a DVD burner and a wireless keyboard and mouse.

* MSRP: starting at $1,599

* Web site: hpshopping.com

Travel Clock with temperature

This travel clock is engineered to keep better time than the old-fashioned windup types - and without that annoying "tick tick tick tick." It also displays the indoor temperature. The clock automatically sets itself to the U.S. atomic clock. And it adjusts for different time zones. Battery included.

* MSRP: $29.95

* Web site: www2.oregonscientific.com

HoMedics Brethe Air Revitalizer

This gadget's maker insists it's not an air freshener, purifier or humidifier. No, it's an "air revitalizer." It neutralizes odors by sending out an "intense rain forest mist" that encapsulates the odor. The gadget comes with vanilla, citrus and lime scents. It burns less juice than a standard light bulb.

* MSRP: $59.99

* Web site: homedics.com

Garmin nuvi 750 GPS

Here's a sleek GPS with a colorful wide-screen display and pre-loaded street maps. It highlights millions of points of interest such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and more. If you're in an unfamiliar place, tap the map page to find the closest hospitals, police stations, intersection and the like.

* MSRP: $549.99

* Web site: garmin.com

Nintendo Wii

Gaming is hot, so we had to include something for you gamers. Unfortunately, the Wii console is in short supply. Demand has been unexpectedly strong. That said - if you find one - you can do everything from playing tennis or volleyball to having a duel to the death with Count Dracula.

* MSRP: $249.99

* Web site: nintendo.com

iRobot Scooba 350 floor-washing robot

Our favorite. This robot is designed to cover 500 square feet on one charge. It uses a four-stage cleaning system to prep, wash, scrub and squeegee sealed hardwood, tile and linoleum floors. To deploy, fill the tank, press "clean," then empty the tank when Scooba is done. Also cleans spills, dirt and grime. But give it to someone you love at your own risk.

* MSRP: $399.99

* Web site: irobot.com