What to Give

Style

Every year Montegrappa, the Italian pen company, creates a limited-edition model. You may be tempted to smoke the 1997 edition, Montegrappa's Cigar. But put away your matches: it writes like a dream ($759). Timberland's new line of dress shoes, the MetroWeatherbuck collection, lets businesspeople climb the corporate ladder in the same footwear they use to hike a trail ($135).

Looking for a gift that combines style with utility? Try the Sky Runner computer bag. This handsome case has 64% more capacity and is 40% lighter than most cases ($79.99).

Help a colleague get organized -- and have a laugh. Dilbert Personal Organizers include a tabbed month-view calendar, contact pages, plus a generous supply of humor from Scott Adams ($15 to $50).

Is that cigar-pen too trendy? Then uncap the Aurora Optima, modeled on a 1930s design ($385).

Give the skiers in your life a watch that looks great at the office -- and helps them move faster on the slopes. The Swatch Access works as a digital lift ticket at more than 300 resorts around the world ($50).

Style Resources

Montegrappa's Cigar; Price tag: $759; Point of sale: Call Seattle Pen (800-477-7367) or visit World Pen on the Web http://www.worldpen.com .

MetroWeatherbuck collection; Price tag: $135; Point of sale: Call Timberland (800-445-5545) or visit the Web http://www.timberland.com .

Sky Runner bag; Price tag: $79.99; Point of sale: Call Kensington Microwave Ltd. (800-535-4242) or visit the Web http://www.kensington.com .

Dilbert Personal Organizers; Price tag: $15 to $50; Point of sale: Call Day Runner Inc. (800-643-9923) or visit the Web http://www.dayrunner.com .

Aurora Optima; Price tag: $385; Point of sale: Call Kenro Industries Inc. (800-741-0005).

Swatch Access; Price tag: $50; Point of sale: Call Swatch (800-U4-SWATCH) or visit the Web http://www.swatch.com .

Desk

Home computers are a hot holiday gift, and the hottest PCs sell for less than $1,000. Our choice: the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 3100 ($999). HP's 17-inch M70 monitor is a multimedia standout ($699).

A speck of dust can damage a keyboard or disk drive. Enter the Data-Vac MicroSweep, a vacuum for electronic equipment ($24.95).

The 25-piece Computer Tool Kit includes screwdrivers, wrenches -- gadgets galore for the do-it-yourself propellerhead ($39.99).

Want to give the gift of speed? Give the MouseMan+, a handy device that automates Windows 95 commands ($59.95).

Looking to make a movie? The Buz Multimedia Producer turns a home computer into a digital editing studio ($199.95).

The QuickTrieve Multimedia Storage Tower is perfect for people whose computer desktops are neater than their office desktops. It holds 16 CDs or 18 Zip disks ($9.99).

Give the gift that says no to telemarketers. When they call, the user simply pushes a button, and Easy Hang Up interrupts: "I'm sorry, this number does not accept this type of call." Easy Hang Up then -- you guessed it -- hangs up ($19.95).

Desk Resources

Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 3100 and M70 Monitor; Price tag: $999; $699; Point of sale: Call HP (800 PC-HOME-1) or visit the Web http://www.hp.com .

Data-Vac MicroSweep; Price tag: $24.95; Point of sale: Call the Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company Inc. (800-VAC-1602).

Computer Tool Kit; Price tag: $39.99; Point of sale: Call JDR Microdevices (800-538-5000) or visit the Web http://www.jdr.com .

MouseMan+; Price tag: $59.95; Point of sale: Call Logitech (800-231-7717) or visit the Web http://www.logitech.com .

Buz Multimedia Producer; Price tag: $199.95; Point of sale: Call Iomega Corp. (800-MY-STUFF) or visit the Web http://www.iomega.com .

QuickTrieve Multimedia Storage Tower; Price tag: $9.99; Point of sale: Call Kensington Microwave Ltd. (800-535-4242) or visit the Web http://www.kensington.com .

Easy Hang Up; Price tag: $19.95; Point of sale: Call D-Mail (800-686-1722) or visit the Web http://www.viamall.com/d-mail/6853.html .

Play

Here's the ultimate gift for the couch potato. The Home Theater Master SL-8000 controls almost any model of TV, cable box, stereo, satellite dish, and CD player ($99.95).

Wavecom Sr. makes the whole house cable-ready. It transmits audio and video signals over distances of up to 250 feet ($249).

The consulting firm BrightIdeas helps parents choose educational software for their kids. Its gift picks: Drivin' With A Dragon (Ages 2-7, $39.95); Rainforest Escapade (Ages 6-8, $37.95); Science & Comics (Ages 9+, $39.95).

America's most popular board games (Risk, Monopoly, Scrabble) are back -- and Internet-enabled. First you buy CD-ROM versions. Then you sign on to Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone http://www.zone.com and start playing ($19.99 to $39.99).