Gear Guide: Part Four Page 2 of 2

Gadgets for Music Lovers and New Parents

New Parents

How to Spot Them: They have that unmistakably look of happy exhaustion caused by a mixture of sleepless nights and sustained giddiness, thanks to their new arrival. And if that’s not a tip-off, the pile of baby toys, metric ton of diaper-related paraphernalia, and stack after stack of baby photos will soon clue you in that you’re shopping for new parents.

Why We Picked These Gifts: Because as cute as they may be, Apple’s new iPod Socks will not double as an alternative to baby booties.

What You’ll Spend: $149 to $400.

Other Ideas: You can also secure the new arrival’s place in history by ordering postage adorned with pictures of their smiling faces through Stamps.com’s PhotoStamps service. Or, if you’re joining the new parents for a holiday feast, take some of the cooking burden off of them by preparing Alton Brown’s Apple Mac and Cheese recipe, as featured in the pages of Macworld .

Instant Pictures

With constant feedings, burping, and diaper changes, it’s a small miracle if parents can manage to take a shower, let alone get pictures made from digital images of their little bundle of joy. Help out with a printer that makes creating 4-by-6 prints of their baby as easy as can be. Harried parents can pop most digital cameras’ memory cards into the Epson PictureMate and have pictures in minutes.—FRITH GOWAN

$199; Epson

Moving Pictures

Your newest grandchild, niece, or nephew may live halfway across the country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see the baby just about anytime, through the miracle of video chat. Give the parents a tiny, easy-to-use Apple iSight video camera, and you’ll be able to see and hear the little one—spit-up and all—through a broadband connection. The new family will think the gift is for them, but you’ll know better.—FRITH GOWAN

$149; Apple Computer

All-Around Camera

For parents with a new baby, every coo, giggle, and step is priceless documentary material. They can build a digital archive with Canon’s 5-megapixel digital camera, the PowerShot A95. It boasts 14 shooting modes (including a video mode that can capture a full three-minute giggle fest, walking attempt, or crying jag) and enough pixel power to print images larger than 8.5 by 11 inches. Nice touches like a rotating LCD monitor, variable autofocus frame selection, and manual shutter and aperture options ensure they don’t miss a moment.—FRITH GOWAN

$400; Canon