MAMA'S GOT A BRAND-NEW BAG: Why should mom haul her laptop computer around in a dreary black bag like one of the guys? Some really cute, colorful alternatives are now available.

Take, please, the limited-edition Tony Blair Squirrel bag from Crumpler ($80), a tongue-in-chic farewell to the Bushy-tailing British MP done up in water-resistant, royal-blue material with orange and black accents, sized perfectly for 13- to 15-inch laptops. There's also an embroidered aboriginal walking-man character (nodding to Crumpler's Australian roots) on one side, and inside, decorating the fuzzy orange liner, is a repeating pattern of Blair's mug in yellow.

Hope there's also a Dubya send-off bag in the works. Available at Crumplerbags.com and select retailers.

SOUND ADVICE: Granted, most audio equipment is not that attractive. But even the most decor-minded mom will be pleased with a gift of Boston Acoustic Soundware speakers ($200/pair).

They're petite, sculptural and surprisingly robust-sounding, with an upward-tilting polyhedron shape (that's a cube resting on one shaved-down edge).

I tested a tasteful Espresso (dark brown) pair that met with Instant Wife Acceptance. Other color options include Just Red, Bamboo, Natural, White, Black and Silver.

The two-way speakers work well on a low shelf, come with a pivoting mounting bracket for hanging on a wall and are weather-proof for outside use. The neighborhood seemed pleased with my front-stoop audition material: EMI's "Classical Destinations," the new extended edition of Carole King's "Tapestry" and R.E.M.'s "Accelerate."

COFFEE TIME: Does mom grouse when she has to pull the automatic coffee maker out from under the cabinet every morning just to fill the water tank? She'll be delighted with the new DeLonghi DCF212T coffeemaker (about $50).

It features full frontal access to fill the water tank and put coffee in the permanent gold filter through a patented flip-out door. This 12-cup, programmable brewmaster also has a unique heated tray on top to warm an empty coffee cup or two during the brewing process.

Takiff tip: Run a few pots of water or coffee through the device before presenting it to mom to get rid of its fresh-from-the-factory plastic flavor.

YOUR OWN PRIVATE SNOOP: We all forget, sometimes, where we've put things. But when it's house keys or a wallet, a mobile phone, your beloved pussycat or maybe a parked car you can't find on a huge lot, the frustration level grows superintense.

Chill out your mums with the Loc8tor Lite personal tracking system. Attach a small homing tag to that device you're always losing. Then, to find it, press a button on the credit-card-sized Loc8tor (which comes with a wall-mount for storage). It puts out a signal that the homing tag responds to with a beep, then sends you off in the right direction with a series of light and sound cues that let you know when you're closing in on the lost item.

And it really works!

Sold with two homing tags for $79.99 at www.loc8tor.com and WalMart.com.

PICTURE PERFECT: Suffering from the "You never call, you never visit" feedback syndrome? Remind mom that you're always thinking of her with the gift of a digital picture frame loaded with shots of you and yours.

The Philips AJL 308 digital picture frame (spotted at Circuit City for $99) really jumps out of the pack because it doubles as an alarm clock and radio with 20 FM presets.

The 7-inch display can go full-screen image or be split to show day, date and time (or radio channel), as well as a smaller digital snapshot (loaded on SD or MMC card or via attached USB device).

Takiff Tip: For best results, plug in a smaller memory card containing just a few images. The device's slide-show feature doesn't work with a massive card.

Also offering a unique take on picture frames is Smartparts SP8PRT, the first digital picture frame with built-in photo printer. When a shot comes up on its eight-inch LCD screen, Mom can tap a button and the device produces a 4-by-6-inch glossy image.

The printer sells for $279, pre-loaded with material for 36 prints. A 36-print replacement cartridge and paper go for $20. For more info, visit http://smartpartsproducts.com.

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UPS: If Mom wants to load that picture frame herself, she's going to need a digital camera. And the smaller the better, I say, to easily fit in her purse or pocket. Plus, be certain it's easy to use, and if it comes in nice colors, hey, we've got a fashion accessory, too.

The 8.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3 digital camera really fills the bill, with fine features like automatic face detection and intelligent scene selection; a sharp Leica zoom lens; a large, 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder and subtle color options - turquoise, light pink or silver. Suggested retail is a reasonable $199.99.

PHONE HOME: Of course, the gift of a mobile phone is another great way to say, "I'm only a few digits away."

Clearly designed with HER needs in mind is the LG Venus from Verizon, a sleek slider phone that comes in black and fuchsia. This fashionable cutie features the dual front screens - the lower one offers touch-sensitive navigation - that are all the rage these days.

Venus also is multimedia-ready, with full VZ Navigator functionality; a decent, 2-megapixel camera; a dedicated key to get the on-board music playing; and stereo Bluetooth technology to clean up her look with wireless headphones. It's $199.99 with a two-year contract.

IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING: She never let you leave the house without proper weather protection. Now you can return the favor by setting up Mom with Ambient Device's 7 -Day Forecaster.

The device features a large, backlit, 6-by-6-inch screen that shows current conditions and an extended, multi-day forecast for 150 locations in the United States.

Even if she doesn't have her reading glasses on, Mom can grasp the temperature trend as the screen color changes from red (warm) to blue (cold). It's $199 at Sharper Image and the Frontgate Catalog. A complete list of forecast locations can be accessed at http://ambientdevices.com.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Help Mom get her shopping list together with a SmartShopper SS101 Grocery List Organizer ($117.23 at amazon.com). The device sticks to the refrigerator magnetically or can be mounted to a wall with the supplied kit.

When Mom (or you) run out of an item, just push the "record" button on the device and announce "cereal" or "butter" or whatever. Voice recognition software converts those spoken items to text on the device's LCD screen that can be printed out to take to the store. A three-pack of paper roll refills costs $5.33. *

Send e-mail to takiffj@phillynews.com.