Father’s Day Tech Gift Ideas

Give Dad a gift he’ll love this Father’s Day. Here are a few tech gifts to consider

GPS $99 and up (for the man who doesn’t use maps-almost all of us!)
Prices for GPS devices are extremely affordable. For example, the Garmin nüvi 65LM is only $109.00, and comes with a large 5″ screen. Lifetime map updates are included. Check it out here

Audible Audiobooks $10 and up (for a more enjoyable commute)
Audible is a terrific service that lets you listen to books while commuting, traveling, etc. You can buy individual books, or subscribe to an annual plan starting at $14.95 per month for 1 book per month. Check it out here

4K TV $579 and up (for the most enjoyable TV experience)
With around four times the number of picture elements (pixels), of a standard High-Definition TV, 4K TV’s have the sharpest, most lifelike picture available.  On a recent visit to Costco, I was amazed at how low 4K TV prices have fallen. You can purchase a 43″ 4K TV for $579.99, a 50″ model $779.99, a 60″ model for $1449.99 (currently on sale for $1249.99), a 70″ model for $2,149.99, and an 80″ model for $3,899.99 Check out 4K TV’s here

Noise-Canceling Headphones $40 and up (for quieter, less stressful travel)
Noise-canceling headphones and earplugs significantly reduce noise on airplanes, while exercising, and for those times you just want quiet. I have owned and loved the Bose headphones ($299 Check out here). For a more budget-friendly option, check out the Sony headphones at $38.25 Check out here

New Phone $0 and up  (for the latest phone features)
I love my iPhone 6+, with it’s super-large, easy to read, and easy to type-on screen. If your current phone is more than two years old, you may be able to trade up for $0 to very little money. Your wireless carrier will have many phones and plans to choose from. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon

Activity Tracker $49 and up (for increased health and fitness)
Activity trackers can help keep track of your physical activity, sleep patterns, heartbeat, and calories burned. The Fitbit Charge HR $149.95 has a silent wake-up alarm, caller ID and a watch. It syncs with your smartphone and computer to track your fitness. Check it out here

Fitbit also makes a bathroom scale (Fitbit Aria), that connects to your wireless network and allows you to keep track of your weight and body fat (Yikes!). Check it out here

I have owned a Fitbit tracker and scale, and found that I was motivated to walk more due having my daily activity scores displayed prominently on my wrist.

Apple or Android Watch $150 and up (for all-in-one time, appointment reminders, health tracking and more)
I’ve covered watches in a recent post

New Computer Monitor $150 + (for better productivity and less eye strain)
If you have an older monitor, or you find yourself wishing for larger text, a new monitor may be just what the doctor ordered. If you can spare the space, get a 24″ or 27″ monitor, in order to view 2 windows side-by-side (if you have good eyesight), or just to see without straining for the rest of us! Check out monitors here


Update: Windows 10 Upgrade Icon Now Showing in the System Tray. We recommend you do not register at this time.
You may have noticed this icon showing up recently Windows 10 Upgarade Icon in the lower right side of your screen. It is an invitation to register for a free (for most if us), upgrade to Windows 10-the newest Windows operating system due out July 29th.
We recommend waiting a while before upgrading to Windows 10. There are always bugs and glitches whenever new software is released. Since there are so many possible combinations of hardware and software, there’s no way to find all the bugs before the software is released. We like to wait a month or two and then research other users’ experiences, before upgrading operating systems.
We will keep you informed as to our recommendations and experience with Windows 10. You will have until July 2016 to upgrade for free, so there’s no hurry.