Don’t think that electronics make good gifts only for guys. Women—especially Moms—love them too. A recent study from Retrevo.com found that while more men than women consider themselves tech savvy, more women were able to correctly identify what “MB” refers to (megabyte) and what "1080p" stands for in HDTV jargon (the highest level of high definition).
We picked some gadgets we thought our Moms might like and mention a recommended model or two. (Value was a key factor, given the economy.) For each, also check out our buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers).
An e-book reader. An electronic book reader may appeal to moms who are voracious readers. Amazon's Kindle has an edge in convenience over the rival Sony Reader; the Kindle receives content wirelessly. However, a new Kindle is expected to be announced on Wednesday May 6, which could complicate your shopping.
A digital camera. Easier to use than ever, many digital cameras today come with presets that will let mom optimize her shots in different light settings. "Smart camera" features, like face detection (and sometimes smile detection) have tended to work well in the models we've tested. Most point-and-shoots also have an image stabilizer to minimize camera shake. If you buy a camera as a gift, be sure to throw in a memory card—the ones included with the camera usually have a paltry amount of space.
Recommended for Mom: The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH, $150. This subcompact has many of the above features and fits neatly into a pocket or purse. Digital camera Ratings & Buying Advice: digital cameras
A digital picture frame. Let Mom showcase her digital snapshots on a digital picture frame. Most of the models we tested were reasonably easy to use, and let you create a slideshow, varying the amount of time between each image.
Recommended for Mom: The Philips 8FF3FPW/27, $130. This model doesn’t have many bells and whistles, but it had very good picture quality and was easy to use.
Update: We've just posted Ratings of new digital frames. A recommendation from this batch: GiiNii Slope GN-812, $60. While this model has only 128MB of internal memory, its versatility, crisp image quality, and low price make it gift-worthy. To see how it stacked up against the rest, see our Digital Picture Frame Ratings & Buying Advice: Digital Picture Frames.
A camcorder. Great for shooting soccer games and school plays, camcorders today are lightweight and intuitive to use. Many now record straight onto flash memory cards, like the kind you’d use in a digital camera. Image stabilizers also help when you don’t have a tripod. HD models provide sharper resolution, but are much pricier.
Recommended for Mom: Panasonic SDR-S7, $300. One of the lightest camcorders we tested, this model records on flash memory and SD cards. The image stabilizer is also very good. A downside: the zoom isn’t very long. Camcorder Ratings & Buying Advice: Camcorders
A GPS navigator. More-expensive portable GPS navigation systems are coming with more and more features, including spoken street names, real-time traffic, and local diversions. Basic models that cost less than $200 have fewer features, but can still fit the bill. If Mom isn’t good with directions, a GPS could be a godsend. (And if Dad doesn’t know left from right, remember that Father’s Day isn’t far off.)
Recommended for Mom: TomTom One 130, $150. While not feature-laden, this model is compact, portable, and easy to use. GPS Ratings & Buying Advice: Portable GPS Systems
An MP3 player. Does Mom commute, hit the gym, or take Fido for long walks? Many small MP3 players can attach to a belt or slip into a pocket. The software that comes with most players will let her convert her CDs into MP3 files. Some displays are larger than others.
Recommended for Mom: iPod Nano, $150 (8 GB). Small and unobtrusive, the Nano is great for walking or jogging. The included headphones sound very good, and the simple design makes the player very easy to use. MP3 Player Ratings & Buying Advice: MP3 Players
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