Digital World Insider: That Time of Year Again

— -- December 21, 2004: One of my editors contacts me, seeking insight on how she can get her hands on an Xbox for her son by Christmas. Where she lives, they're sold out. There's no Xbox to be found in any Target, Good Guys, Best Buy, EB, or KFC within driving distance. My husband works at Microsoft, so she wonders if I have any hot tips. Raiding Bill Gates' compound doesn't seem like such a good idea, so instead my husband locates the last, lone Xbox at a local game store here in Seattle, and I three-day it to her. Thankfully, there's one less Halo-less kid in the universe.

Let this be a lesson: Consumer electronics can sell out, so start shopping early this season. Conventional wisdom says to begin holiday shopping on the day after Thanksgiving (or two days before Christmas, depending on who you are). But getting a jump on things can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

So what are the hot tech toys this season? And what do you buy the gadget lover who has everything? Here are some ideas.

Of course, the big news in gaming is Microsoft's new Xbox 360. On sale November 22, you'll have to fight rabid early adopters for your cut of the pie.

There are two systems available. The Xbox 360 Core System ($299) features the console, a wired controller, and a Silver Xbox Live membership. The Xbox 360 ($399) is more deluxe, adding a headset, a 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller, Silver Xbox Live membership, and a remote control. The Silver Xbox Live membership lets you get updates and browse content; but to play online against other Xbox owners, you have to upgrade to Gold, which costs $50.

EB Games is preselling two Xbox bundles, Core ($600) and Ultimate ($700), both of which come with games and additional accessories. But there's a caveat: If you order after October 26 (so, uh, last month), you may not receive your Xbox until 2006.

In fact, just about all preorder Xboxes are sold out. Your best bet is to hit your local Best Buy, Kmart, or Target on or around November 22. Since these stores aren't preselling units, you'll have just as good a chance as the next person. Also, keep checking online resellers like Amazon.com, because you never know when they might get a new allocation.

If you're feeling especially generous (but not new-car generous), you may want to consider throwing in some games. Some of the more-talked-about Xbox 360 titles include adventure shooter Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, platform adventure game Kameo: Elements of Power, and World War II shooter Call of Duty 2.

Not ready to blow $300 or more on an Xbox 360? Sony's PlayStation Portable ($250, bundled with headphones and a 32MB Memory Stick) or Nintendo's DS ($130) should satisfy any gamer. If you're a parent, consider it a gift to yourself as well: Handheld game machines are great for keeping kids occupied during long car trips, dinner with friends, or naptime (yours, that is).

If your child, spouse, or other gift recipient already owns a PSP or DS, think about supplementing their game collection. Right now, the big game for PSP is Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories ($50); this version has no pornographic content, as far as I know. And for DS owners, I recommend Animal Crossing ($35), which is due out in December. Although I haven't seen the portable version, the original Animal Crossing for Nintendo Game Cube is one of my favorite games of all time. Basically, you run around a village doing errands for your weird animal neighbors, working off debt by fishing and whatnot, and buying stuff for your house.

Another nice stocking stuffer for a PSP owner would be a movie in Sony's Universal Media Disc format. Office Space ($30) is a great flick for disgruntled employees, while Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ($30) is a fun distraction and a good reminder of why some people should never have children; it's due out December 20.

These days, many consumers have converted to digital photography. But how many people do you know with (A) outdated digicams, (B) oversized digicams, or (C) no clue what to do with a digicam? In instances A or B, it's time to upgrade; in instance C, it's time to think about giving your recipient a nice new shawl.

One of the newest trends in digital cameras is the addition of Wi-Fi, which gives you the ability to upload pictures to a PC attached to a wireless network. Some allow you to upload digital files to photo-sharing sites or e-mail them to friends and family--provided you're near a hotspot, of course.

Nikon's Coolpix P1 ($550) and Coolpix P2 ($400), and Kodak's EasyShare One ($600), are equipped with Wi-Fi. We're reviewing the EasyShare One in the January 2006 issue of PC World (and we aren't wild about it, so you may want to consider one of the other models instead). Meanwhile, Canon's PowerShot SD430 ($500) will be shipping in January--too late for holiday gift-giving, but just in time for a little self-indulgence.

But for those of us who can live with a wire or two, a regular point-and-shoot will do just fine. Any of the models on our recent Top 10 Point and Shoot Cameras chart should serve you well--especially our number-one pick, the Casio Exilim EX-Z750 (, depending on retailer).

And if your gift recipient fancies him- or herself a budding Ansel Adams, then take a look at our most recent Top 10 Advanced Cameras chart. Our number-one pick? The Canon PowerShot G6 (), an older model, but a bargain.

If your gift recipient has a perfectly good digicam, you may want to think about buying a camera accessory instead. There are a plethora to choose from, including cases, memory cards, extra batteries, and lenses for SLR cameras. But one of the best accessories is a portable photo printer--in particular, Hewlett-Packard's Photosmart 475 (), which is equipped with a 1.5GB hard drive and can print 5-by-7 pictures.

As much as I love my Mini (the MP3 player, not the auto), I too am sick of the "I" word. But for those of you planning to buy a portable music player for someone, I have to recommend an Apple IPod. When it comes to MP3 players, the 20GB IPod () and IPod Nano ($199 for the 2GB version, $249 for 4GB) still offer the best combination of features, style, and user-friendly controls.

In PC World's recent review of 20GB MP3 players, the IPod came out on top thanks to its sharp screen and effortless syncing to your PC. (That review went to print before Apple released its video IPod. Read "First Look: Apple's Video-Ready IPod" for our take on the latest model.) But if you're dead set against buying an IPod--or you want features such as an FM radio or voice recorder--then check out our number-two pick: the Cowon IAudio X5 ().

If your gift recipient already has an MP3 player, consider a new pair of headphones. The earphones that are bundled with most digital audio players usually aren't known for their stellar quality. Plus, with all the news about thieves snatching IPods, it might be good to replace those pearly white cords with something that doesn't scream "I've got an IPod!" For a look at different headphone styles--and our favorites in each category--read "Music to Your Ears."

With enough time and forethought, you can find great deals on consumer electronics. But that means starting early and leaving enough time for shipping. Using comparison shopping sites, you can search for items to see which online stores offer the best deals. The good ones even take into account the bottom line price--what an item will cost once you factor in tax and shipping. But where do you start? Luckily, PC World can lend a hand: We recently test-drove a long list of comparison shopping sites, including several new ones.

Now, I understand that not everyone is going to start shopping right away. So what do you do when it's December 24, you're stuck at the airport, and you realize that you forgot about getting something for Uncle Pete? Well, if you're flying out of Atlanta or San Francisco, you can hit up one of Zoom Systems' new vending machines and pick him up an IPod, a digital camera, or a fine selection of salty snacks.

This is my last Digital World Insider. But not to worry: The column is continuing, and we're expanding our consumer electronics coverage. Soon we'll be launching our new Digital World blog, where I and other dedicated bloggers and members of the PC World staff will be spouting our opinions about the latest happenings in the consumer electronics world. Future editions of this column will feature the most interesting products and the hottest news from our blog.