1. iPad Mini ($329, Apple)
If your eyesight can stand the reduction in screen size, this is the better iPad, and it costs less. It has the same resolution as the original, just packs more pixels into a smaller space. But what you’ll really appreciate is its weight. With my iPad 2, every night I worry the things going to break my nose when I fall asleep. This thing is beautiful. But it may be in short supply before Christmas.

2. Nest Learning Thermostat ($250, Amazon)
This is thing beats other thermostats by a factor of 10. Designed by the guy that designed the first iPod and iPhone, the Nest learns your habits over time and programs itself. Turn the heat up every weekday morning at 7A, but not until 9A on weekends, and it will eventually start doing it for you. It also lets you access it from anywhere (so you could turn your heat up from your iPhone on your way home). It has gotten rave reviews.

3. Canon Pancake Lens: 40mm EF f/2.8 STM ($149, Amazon)
This one is on my Christmas list. If you have a Canon DSLR, you’ll love how light and compact this makes your camera. The pancake lens has long been missing from Canon’s line-up, but they now offer this high quality option for a low price. Any Canon SLR user would be happy to receive this.

4. The new iMac ($1,299, Apple)
If you haven’t been by an Apple Store lately, its worth the trip to hold the new iPad Mini and see the new iMac. It is crazy thin, fast and beautiful. If you have the cash, choose the $1,499 model and add the Fusion Drive, a combo hard drive and solid state drive. That will make the thing scream.  The 27-inch models will ship in January. And remember that when you buy a new Mac, it’s always best to by right after they are released, because the price rarely goes down. Wait a while, and you could purchase a Mac just before a new one comes out–the worst time.

5. Sonos ($299, Amazon)
Sonos was on my Father’s Day gift list, but I had to add it again because I have gotten to use it so much since then. I replaced my Polk XM receiver with a Sonos Connect, so now I have access to all the Sonos goodness like Pandora and Rdio, my new favorite music service. But the multi-zone aspect of Sonos is it’s best feature. My friend, Peter, just put six zones in his house and it is ridiculous how easy it is to control the system from an iPhone, iPad, iPod or Android device. The picture and link above is the Play:3, which is their smaller portable unit. Check out the whole family of devices.