Father’s Day Gift Ideas

With Father’s day just around the corner, here are some great gift ideas that will result in big smiles and no exchanges or returns.

Philips Senseo
The Philips Senseo is a “pod” based coffee maker. The fact that it makes two cups at a time cuts down on the waiting period associated with other “pod” based machines that only make one. The Senseo’s most unique “taste” feature is that it gives a rich, frothy coffee layer with every cup. Though new in the US, Senseo has sold over 5 million units in Europe. Philips has teamed up with Douwe Egberts (a division of Sara Lee) to exclusively provide the gourmet blend coffee pods. Pods are available four taste varieties: Mild roast, Medium roast, Dark roast and Decaf. The Senseo comes in three colors: Cobalt Blue, White, and Black. ($70; www.senseo.com or www.amazon.com)

Ultimate Golf Cart Bag: Ogio Stinger
The OGIO Stinger golf cart bag is guaranteed to wow the boys on the links. The Stinger has an ingenious, yet simple feature called RAIL (Rapid Access Inline Lock). RAIL is an extender arm that locks on the back of your cart giving the bag 45-degree angle similar to the angle of a carry bag. This makes retrieving and depositing your sticks easier than ever. But that’s not all, Ogio’s zipper less golf ball holder uses tension rods to automatically open and close when a ball is pulled out and its zipper less rain hood does the same thing locking back in place after you remove your club. Woods are protected by a lined interior, irons get properly channeled in front and the lowly putter gets an elevated slot so you don’t bang your irons. ($250; www.OGIO.com)

Panasonic DVD Camcorder-VDR M70
At just a little over 1 pound (weight not price in England!) this DVD camcorder offers the freedom and flexibility to burn video directly to a disc that can be immediately played in your computer’s DVD drive or on your home DVD player! The 10X variable speed zoom lens lets you get right into the action and the video image stabilization help keep the picture still while a proud dad is shooting video of any of his family’s sports enthusiasts. ($899.95; www.panasonic.com)

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1
The dominant feature of this extremely slim and lightweight 5.1 megapixel camera is the gorgeous 2.5 inch viewfinder. This feature alone makes the camera worth considering because you can actually use it for a mini-slide show after a day of picture taking. The Carl Zeiss optics (3X optical zoom) incorporate a vertical lens design, therefore making a pop out lens unnecessary adding to the sleekness of its appearance. ($499.95; www.sony.com)

Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0
You’ve got the digital camera but you just can’t figure out how to get those pictures into your computer, save them, fix them, print them and send them with the same ease that you took them. Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 to the rescue. If you can click a mouse you can organize your photos by “tagging” them (by event or date), back them up (in the event of a computer crash), fix them (red eye, too dark/light/hazy), print them, send them (email, with your phone, on the web) and even create gifts with them (calendars, cards, hard bound photo books). ($49.99; www.adobe.com)

Totes “WHISTLE” Key Finder
Can’t find your keys? Just whistle and the key ring will beep to let you know where it and your keys are. It also has a push button light to help you find your way in a low light situation. A simple push-button release makes it quick and easy to detach the key that you want. This will save your dad lots of time and embarrassment. ($11.25; www.totes-isotoner.com, www.jcpenney.com)

Norelco Cool Skin
The new Cool Skin 7000 series shaves as close as a blade, with less irritation, when used with the built-in NIVEA for Men HQ170 lotion. The Cool Skin features Norelco’s Lift & Cut technology and dispenses NIVEA for Men alcohol-free lotion or gel, which is distributed evenly across the skin with the Glide Rings. It can be used in or out of the shower and rinses clean under the faucet. Available in the 7000 series (7735X and 7775X) with patented Glide Rings, or the more moderately priced 6701X, perfect for first-time shavers. ($69.99 – 139.99; www.norelco.com)

Dads Personal Vending Machine: Maytag SkyBox
This customizable beverage vendor holds 66 12-ounce cans or 33 12-ounce bottles. Features interchangeable front and side panels; handy storage shelf available with optional SkyBase stand (sold separately) 4 sections with independent call buttons and lighted near-empty indicator, Child lock-out for locking some sections while leaving others accessible. Measures 21-1/4 by 23-5/8 by 34-1/4 inches (glass bottles, plastic bottles and cans may be stocked together). In addition, you can customize the front and side panels with sports logos from the NFL, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, college and other sports. ($500 for unit, $69 for stand)www.skyboxbymaytag.com

Video Game Nostalgia --Authentic Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga Arcade Game Combo
Ms. Pac-Man is back...and this time she’s brought a friend, Galaga. Remember riding your bike to the arcade...now you can experience the same thrill at home. Gobble glowing ghosts in Ms. Pac-Man while the music increases its tempo. Eat a power pill and then race around the maze chomping for points. Shoot down alien creatures in Galaga and get sucked into the mesmerizing vibrating cone to double your firepower. ($2,995 – www.namco.com)