What to Give

'Twas the month before Xmas and people in business
Were looking for gifts, a few with some whiz-ness --
Something for desk, travel, play, style, or gear.
Things fun, useful, and smart -- some not too dear.

But there's more to the season than just spending dough.
We're all part of this world -- we should help make it go
By giving back to our schools, aiding people in need,
Making small contributions, just planting a seed.
As we race toward the future at speeds that bump many,
Season's greetings to all -- may all be in fast company!

To contribute your suggestion of ways to give back or to learn how others give back, visit http://www.fastcompany.com/givingback

Gear

Remember the quaint old days of home video? You'd record Junior's birthday party and play highlights for Grandma on the VCR. With digital video, you can post highlights to the Web! Compact and powerful, the Sony DSR-PD1 digital video camera is a leading-edge professional tool for graphic artists and multimedia developers. It's also a blockbuster gift for the filmmaker in your life ($3,000).

Talk about good things in small packages! The REX PC Companion is the smallest contact manager around. It tracks up to 2,500 contacts, appointments, and memos -- and fits in your shirt pocket ($129 to $159).

At last, a videoconferencing system that doesn't require computer hardware. With the ViaTV Phone, all you need is a TV and a telephone. Once the audio call is connected, you start the video call by pressing a button ($499).

Chances are, the "person who has everything" already has a PalmPilot. But the Pilot achieved fame as an electronic organizer. Its next great application is email. So the PalmPilot modem makes a great accessory. This lightweight device snaps easily to the bottom of a Pilot. Find a phone line, press a button, and download messages ($129).

Tired of colleagues (or spouses) who spend hours surfing the Web? Here's a gift that lets them surf while they sleep! The Audible Player downloads audio-based content from publishers, media outlets, and business-conference organizers -- more than 10,000 hours of spoken-word programming, from Peter Drucker's book Managing for the Future to NPR's "Car Talk" ($249).

Gear Resources

Sony DSR-PD1; Price tag: $3,000; Point of sale: Call Sony (800-686-SONY) or visit the Web http://www.sel.sony.com .

REX PC Companion; Price tag: base model: $129; high-capacity model: $159; Point of sale: Call Franklin Electronic Publishers (888-REX-6400) or visit the Web http://www.franklin.com/rex .

ViaTV Phone; Price tag: $499; Point of sale: Call 8x8 Inc. (888-VIEW-8x8) or visit the Web http://www.viatv.com .

PalmPilot modem; Price tag: $129; Point of sale: Call U.S. Robotics (800-881-7256) or visit the Web http://palmpilot.3com.com/palm .

Audible Player; Price tag: $249 (includes $75 worth of free downloads); Point of sale: Call Audible Inc. (973-890-8799) or visit the Web http://www.audible.com .

Travel

Do you know someone who simply refuses to ask for directions? Then give him -- it's always a him -- the Tripmate global positioning system (bundled with Street Atlas USA 5.0). Tripmate's receiver picks up signals from orbiting GPS satellites. The CD atlas has street maps for the entire United States ($149).

If it has to be mobile, it had better be rugged. The AP-12 Organizer protects important CDs -- from software to music ($5.99).

Lots of travelers worry about staying in touch. Not those with Digital DJ. It's a portable radio with a tiny LCD screen that displays news, sports scores, and real-time stock quotes ($139 plus monthly fee).

What's worse on a plane -- a chatterbox in the next seat or scratchy sound on the movie? Try the Koss qz/2000 noise-reduction stereophone, which does what its name implies. Attach the eq/30 equalizer -- and voila, movies in style ($129.99; $29.99).

The Voice Clock makes waking up on time as easy as saying the time. Users set the time, day, date, and alarm simply by speaking ($75).

Travel Resources

Tripmate; Price tag: $149; Point of sale: Call DeLorme Mapping (800-452-5931) or visit the Web http://www.delorme.com .

AP-12 Organizer CD case; Price tag: $5.99; Point of sale: Call Case Logic Inc. (800-447-4848) or visit the Web http://www.caselogic.com .

Digital DJ; Price tag: $139 plus monthly fee; Point of sale: Call Digital DJ Inc. (888-600-4226) or visit the Web http://www.digitaldj.com .

qz/2000 noise-reduction headphones and eq/30 equalizer; Price tag: $199.99; $29.99; Point of sale: Call Koss Corporation (800-USA-KOSS) or visit the Web http://www.koss.com .

Voice Clock; Price tag: $75; Point of sale: Call Voice It Worldwide Inc. (800-846-3000) or visit the Web http://www.voiceit.com .