Holiday Gift Guide: 10 great gifts for your son 2011 2012

Let's face it - finding the perfect holiday gift for your son (or grandson) is one heck of a challenge. Get the right gift, and you're a hero; get the wrong gift and... well, December 2012 is a long way off.

Thankfully, Tecca is here to help. We've compiled a list of 10 great high-tech gift ideas at different price points to satisfy sons of all ages and interests.

1. Nintendo 3DS Game System
Price: $169.99

Nintendo is a master at packing a lot of fun into a tiny, portable game system. It's why the company has all but dominated the handheld gaming market since it first introduced the Game Boy in 1989. The Nintendo 3DS, its newest offering, offers the terrific mix of new technology and fun Nintendo is known for. And now, after a major price drop, the 3DS offers affordability as well.

The 3DS creates a glasses-free 3D effect, allowing you the option to enhance or turn off the feature if you're concerned about eyestrain. The system offers a number of great family-friendly game titles for kids of all ages, like Super Mario 3DS, Madden NFL Football, and Pokemon Rumble Blast. It's even got a built-in rechargeable battery, so you won't have to go through the trouble of buying a bunch of hard-to-gift-wrap AA batteries.


2. Motorola Razr 4G LTE
Price: $299.99 ($649.99 without contract)

If you want your son to stay in touch once he leaves the nest, drop him a hint by giving him the new Motorola Razr smartphone. It offers all the necessities such as an 8-megapixel camera, the ability to record video in 1080p HD, access to thousands of apps, blazing-fast 4G wireless speed — and oh yeah, the ability to make phone calls back home.

If your boys get a little rough, don't worry. The ultra-slim Razr phone has a coating of combat-tested Kevlar and is built with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, ensuring it will hold up in even the most adventurous of pockets. You'll be getting text messages thanking you for picking out such an awesome gift all year long.

3. Pioneer MOSFET Apple iPod-Ready In-Dash CD Deck with MP3 Playback
Price: $69.99

Is your newly minted teen driver stuck behind the wheel of a terminally uncool used vehicle? Then consider giving him the gift of coolness: a brand new Pioneer car stereo capable of playing music directly from his iPod, iPhone, or other mobile device by way of a USB cable.

It's everything you need to bring even the most dated of station wagons up to date — at least so far as music is concerned. And if you and your teen are unfamiliar with car tech and worry that installation will be a hassle, don't fret; many major retailers offer installation service for around $50.

4. iHome iP15 LED Color Changing Stereo System for iPhone/iPod
Price: $59.99

If music is a big part of your son's life, give him a gift that will enhance his listening experience like the iP15 color-changing sound system from iHome. It offers stereo sound, a passive subwoofer for bringing deep bass notes to life, and five different color-change modes. With a press of a button, this stereo will glow and change color with the music. Or, your teen can simple set it to his favorite color for a nice mood-filled glow.

If your teen ever outgrows his iPod or iPhone, the system also includes a line-in jack to connect any audio source to it. And best of all, it doubles as a iPod/iPhone charger, so the fun won't stop on account of a low battery.


5. Sklz Bullet Ball
Price: $14.99

Does your son dream of being the next Nolan Ryan or Curt Schilling? Or does he just really enjoy playing baseball? Either way, you can give him the gift of encouragement this season with the Sklz Bullet Ball.

This neat baseball accurately measures the speed at which the ball is thrown and displays the information on a built-in LCD display. It's a great, inexpensive way to measure training progress for kids of all ages. Just make sure your son understands that this ball is for pitching practice, not for batting practice - hitting it can damage the electronics inside.

6. ASUS Eee Netbook Computer
Price: $299.99

If you're looking for a starter computer for your son without the expense of a full-fledged laptop, then the ASUS Eee PC 1015PM makes a great choice this holiday season. It offers the computing basics: Windows 7 Starter Edition, lite versions of Word and Excel for working on school projects, built-in wifi for connecting to Facebook or Twitter, 1GB of RAM, a decent-sized 250GB hard drive, a 10.1" screen, and a battery that can go eight hours on a single charge.

It doesn't have a lot of frills — this 2.8-lb. netbook is definitely not a gaming computer. But if you're okay with that, you can give a great netbook computer for under $300.

7. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack
Price: $69.99

Activision's new game Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (available for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and 3DS) combines two time-tested kid favorites: action figures and Pokemon-style video games. The Skylanders Starter Pack includes the video game, three action figures, and a power portal that your son can use to bring the action figures to life in game.

Your son can play the game solo to solve puzzles, battle the bad guys, and collect treasure. He can have his action figures battle his friends' in game and even transfer his character to the PC to explore free online content. And when he tires of that, the game offers him the ability to buy new action figures ($7.99, sold separately) to unlock different areas and experience a new way to play. The game is rated E10 (everyone 10 and older) but will best be enjoyed by those at the younger end of the range.

8. Apple iPad 2
Price: Starts at $499

No need to tell you what you already know: When you buy your son a gift from the Apple Store, you're pretty much guaranteed to find something cool. But if you're looking for the coolest of the cool, we suggest the Apple iPad 2 tablet computer.

The iPad 2 does everything the original does but with a higher resolution screen and more processing power. You'll like the access to learning apps and e-books, he'll like the access to games. And you'll both love the FaceTime video chat feature that helps you stay in touch, even if he's away from home.

9. Nixon Rotolog Watch
Price: $225.00

Now that you can get the exact time on your cell phone, watches have made the transition from something basic and utilitarian to something much more hip, sophisticated, and stylish. If your son is a young adult who is starting to keep an eye to fashion, we recommend the classic Nixon Rotolog watch.

It offers a set of rotating inner dials as a unique way for telling the time and a top-quality, seamless band available in a number of different colors (including real wood). It's way more fashionable than functional, but in this watch's case, that's the point.

10. Best Buy Gift Card
Price: Varies

Let's face it: Some kids are harder to shop for than others. It's hard to go wrong with a Best Buy gift card. The store is absolutely loaded with all the gadgets and gizmos they love.

With this, they can pick out their own gift and have it shipped directly to them. Best Buy even has a free shipping promotion that lasts through December 27 with no minimum purchase required. It's the best way to guarantee the perfect gift, because he'll pick it out himself!

[Disclaimer: Tecca is funded in part by Best Buy.]