Handpicked - A Man's Wishlist

Anyone still Holiday shopping for that special guy in their life? If so, you are in luck. Below are nine things that just about any guy (especially the geeky ones) would love to open any day. Of course, these are not limited to holiday gifts, but with the biggest [last minute] shopping day around the corner, now is as good of a time as any to let you all know about them.

1) Microsoft XBOX 306 250GB w/ Kinect - $399.99 - One of this season's "must have" gifts. I cannot guarantee that they are still available where game consoles are sold, but it is worth a look. How many times do you wish your man would do some physical exercise rather than sitting on the couch playing video games. This may not happen when you are around, but it definitely does when you are not. With the new Kinect, your body is the controller. Think of Wii, without the Wii-mote. If your man already has a Playstation 3 console, consider the new Playstation Move controller for an experience similar to the Wii.
2) Apple iPad - $499-699 - I'm sure you have heard about these for quite some time now. What you may not know is that the iPad comes in three capacity choices (16, 32, or 64GB) and two connection options (WiFi, WiFi+3G). The memory is up to you because all of those choices will hold quite a bit of information. As for the WiFi vs WiFi+3G option, I would save the extra money from the WiFi+3G and instead go with the WiFi only option and also add a Mobile Hotspot (refer to #5 below).
3) Philips Norelco Bodygroomer - $69.99 - As a man who goes from a cleanly shaven face to month(s) long beards, I can say having a good electric trimmer is a must for any man. This particular trimmer has a razor foil design on one end and a trimmer with combing guards on the other for multi-use functionality. If your man (or you) does not like any form of facial hair, he may be interested in a Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D Wet/Dry Shaver.
4) The Pacific HBO MiniSeries - $63.99 - If your man is a history buff or just a fan of Band of Brothers HBO MiniSeries, then The Pacific cannot miss. A similar World War II MiniSeries that follows the intertwined stories of three Marines as they fight the Japanese in the Pacific campaign. Even Amanda thought the last series was excellent!
5) Wireless Mobile Hotspot (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless) - varies - Ever wish you could access the Internet on your computer anywhere you have cellular service? Well now you can. The Wireless Mobile Hotspots allow you to connect multiple WiFi devices, such as iPads (refer to #2 above). Some of the newer smartphones from the top providers also have this feature available so you may want to check with your sales representative before buying a separate component (however, you will notice significantly less battery life on your phone and you may miss phone calls when connected - again, check with your sales representative).
6) Smartphone (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless) - varies - If your man does not have a smartphone yet, please consider allowing him to get one this holiday season. I promise you will be using it just as much as he. The ability to have the Internet, music, calendar appointments, and email at your fingertips at any moment is life-saving. Once you get one, you will never know how you functioned without.
7) Grilling Tool Set - varies - Amanda bought me a nice Grilling Tool Set for Christmas last year and I made good use of it during the summer months. [She benefitted from it, too!] Having the right tools for the job makes every job easier and more enjoyable. The link directs you to a Google Shopping page, so take some time to look through the different options. Just about any one would be a wise choice.
8) Sony Smart TV w/ Google TV - $799.99-1399.99 - I'm sure many of you would expect to see one of the new 3D TV's listed here. As excited as I am for 3D TV viewing at home, I am still not entirely ready to jump on board. It is still a very new technology, requires the purchase of other items, and there is not a lot of content available. Google TV on the other hand allows for internet browsing and YouTube viewing right on your television set. This is also new technology, but it will be easier to update since it is software driven rather than hardware driven like 3D. Not to mention, even Kevin Bacon is on board with the new Google TV (video below)

9) ThinkGeek - varies - If you have a "geeky" man, just browse the website and you'll see why it's here. :)

Best of [shopping] luck!

Questions, comments, suggestions? Feel free to contact me: ilario {at} bacidesigner {dot} com or comment on this post.