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Dad will love any of these great gadgets -- none of which will cost you more than a Ben Franklin.
John Falcone
John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
The Roku 3 is our current top pick in the Internet media box category. It's the best overall choice for online streaming, with literally hundreds of channels -- pretty much everything except iTunes and YouTube. Just make sure you help Dad setup his Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, and/or Vudu account first.
Dad probably isn't savvy to the whole world of online backup, but he gets drag and drop copying. That's why a Seagate Backup Plus USB drive with a whopping 1TB of storage (that's 1,000 GB for just less than $100) is a great gift.
Logitech's most affordable Harmony universal remote is also one of the most recommendable. Program it via the Web on your Mac or Windows PC, and control up to 5 devices at once. Perfect for dads who are couch potatoes -- or control freaks.
Music lovers will appreciate these "I can't believe they cost less than $60" Dayton Audio speakers. But they're not self-powered, so make sure Dad also has an amplifier (or just toss in the $25 Lepai LP-2020A+ for good measure.)
Yes, tablets and smartphones can double as e-book readers. But the $69 Amazon Kindle has a long-lasting battery and a paperlike screen that avid readers will appreciate. And unlike more versatile devices, there won't be any calls, e-mails, or texts to distract the reader, either. (You'll need to pay $119 if you want to step up the self-illuminated, touch-screen Paperwhite version.)
If Dad prefers to hang out at the local Barnes & Noble, the basic Nook Simple Touch may be a better choice than the Kindle. And unlike the slightly cheaper Kindle, the $79 Nook has a touch-screen -- and no ads. (The GlowLight version costs $40 more.)
If Dad is an Apple fan, this wireless keyboard will work with his Mac, iPad, and iPhone. And because it's solar powered, swapping batteries becomes a thing of the past.
The Jawbone Jambox gets all the press, but the JBL Flip is our favorite Bluetooth speaker for under $100. It's portable, rechargeable, has speakerphone capability, sounds great for its size, and works as a wireless speaker with virtually any smartphone or tablet. The perfect way to introduce Dad to the world of wireless audio.
Dad will appreciate the retro look and great sound of the Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones. You'll appreciate the fact that they cost less than $40 and are available in multiple colors.
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