Last week I presented a sensible look at gifts $140 or less. Now it’s time to break the piggy bank and pretend we have money enough to dream and indulge with Big Kid delight. Here are the real tech toys, five jaw-droppers that are sure to make your family think you’ve lost your mind, and blissfully you just might.

 

Parrot AR.Drone Quadrocopter

$350

http://ardrone.parrot.com/

A remote-controlled flier with a wireless twist the Parrot AR.Drone can be controlled using the touchscreen of an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

Two built-in cameras, one along the underside of the body, another pointing out the front, capture a view of what the AR.Drone sees and, through a built-in Wi-Fi connection, can send the live feed for display to your iPhone’s screen.

Should you have a friend with their own AR.Drone you can use the built-in Wi-Fi to connect the two fliers and play multiplayer games made available for download as apps from the iTunes Store.

All of this functionality rests atop a design using four rotary blades for better stability and control, and a special hull shields that protect against impact for both indoor and outdoor use and to help personalize your unit for multiplayer battles.

Although built for Apple devices right now, the company promises to release software for use with other smartphone platforms in the near future.

Toshiba Libretto W100

$1,100

http://www.toshiba.ca/twentyfifth

In recent months there has been a debate regarding tablet computers. Should you buy a 9.7” model like the iPad or opt for a 7” model, just half the size, like the Samsung Tab? Why not get a device that can be both? The Toshiba Libretto has TWO 7” touchscreens connected to each other in a folded design. You can use the bottom display as a virtual keyboard (with a wide selection of different styles) and use the top screen for surfing and applications. Alternately you can turn it sideways and use both screens to display content for reading or, because both displays are part of the same desktop, drag a window from one view onto the other.

Let's be clear, this is NOT a tablet, but a full-on pocket computer running Windows 7. The Libretto W100 was made as a show-off piece for Toshiba’s 25th Anniversary, meaning it is most certainly intended as a Geek toy, but with a built-in webcam, 62 GB solid state drive, Pentium U5400 processor, and built-in accelerometer to handle switching those LED-backlit, multi-touch screens it’s easy to pull a great deal of use from it as you’re chuckling away masterfully next to your friends and their silly, one screen tablets.

Super Hero Motorcycle Suits

$900 +

http://www.udreplicas.com/

When movie studios need a replica of a movie costume made for one of their gala premieres, they contact Universal Designs who create practical duplicates that can be used for events while the real costume remains safely locked up until the sequel. Such has been the satisfaction of Warner Bros., Fox, and Disney with their work that they have given the company the official license to manufacture replicas enhanced to meet the requirements of protective leather outwear for motorcycle riders.

Who are the top heroes on two wheels in Hollywood today? Batman, Wolverine, Iron Man, and, of course, the cast of the upcomingmovie Tron Legacy. Drive around town dressed to the nines with one of these outfits and you’re sure to inspired double-takes for miles and miles. While the detail makes them genuinely “super” it’s the use of translucent Kevlar and leather armor segments that deliver full protection against the road. Divided into sculpted plates and linked with Cordoba mesh, the suits offer a surprising about of flexibility for comfort, but also to prevent you looking like a statue. People will wave to you and you’ll want to wave back.

Each suit has its own details, such as the reflective accents on the Tron jackets, and is offered in limited runs only (sadly the Dark Knight suits are sold out).

Gibson Firebird X Limited Edition Robot Guitar

$5,570

http://www.gibson.com

Imagine Gibson the Neuromancer meeting with Gibson the guitar god and you have an idea of what the Firebird X is all about. Internal robotics allow the guitar to tune itself. Just strum to get it going and it will turn the tuning pegs to the needed rotations on its own. You can even program it to automatically switch between different tunings in between songs during a live performance.

Loaded with computer chips to enhance its performance, the Firebird will also be one of the first Gibson guitars to make use of Apps. Just like Apple the guitar make will be launching their own App Store where third-party developers can create their own tweaks and enhancements that Firebird owners can buy, download, and install in their guitar for added tricks and new features through app-enhanced accessories.

Limited to a run of just 1,800 units, it has a body made from hand-washed swamp ash, a neck of rock maple, and a figure board of Angelim Rajado wood from Brazil making it light to hold and giving it an “acoustic-like voicing”.

LTT Illuminated Bath Tub

$4,000

http://www.gnr8.biz

I’ve always wanted an old-fashioned, stand up bath tub. This model is child-friendly, “undestructable”, non-slippery, and vandalism-proof. Oh, and it lights up. Yes an internal LED lighting system can give it a full glow of red, orange, lemon yellow, apple green, fuschia pink, lila purple, black, and even white.

While you wait for the water to fill and the bubbles to rise, you can use a remote control to change the colours at different levels of intensity, or fill it full of ice and beverages and set it to cycle through different colour patterns for a party. There’s nothing quite like floating in a pool of apple green light.