2008 Holiday Gift Guide

This year, I have committed myself to shop early. Something I have very little experience in. No matter how hard I plan, I always wind up at the mall on Christmas Eve. No matter how hard I try, I always wind up giving some lousy gifts.

So today, I present the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide – an incentive to shop early and shop well.

  

1. Garmin nüvi Portable GPS Navigator

Street Price: $155

 

---

 

Now is the time to buy a GPS for anyone on your list who doesn’t have one. After years of being terribly pricy, in-car GPS navigation systems are now de rigueur. The rate at which aftermarket GPS systems advance and fall in price make the factory systems included with new cars seem outdated and overpriced within months.

The easy part of choosing a GPS system is the brand. The Garmin Nuvi line is currently dominating the GPS market with systems in a wide range of models, features, and price . No matter which model you choose, you will find them indispensable, ridiculously easy to mount and remove, and a powerful travel companion.

The in-car navigation system is kind of like the TiVo – no one thinks they need one until they own one, and then they don’t know how they lived without it.

  

2. Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)

Street Price: $219

 

---

 

First off, I want to advise that the iPod Touch is only a substitute for people who for whatever reason do not have an iPhone. That said, it’s the best media player on the market – and much more.

Essentially an iPhone without cellular voice or data capabilities, the iPod Touch is still a very strong device, and finally attractively priced.

Like the iPhone, I would argue that the value of this device is not so much in its multimedia capabilities, but for the thousands of third-party applications via the App Store. Apps such as – of I dunno – StationStops for iPhone!

  

3. Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color

Street Price: $1514

 

---

 

This TV has a 5-star average rating from over 440 reviews, which is spectacular. And it’s no wonder – this Samsung is an outstanding TV and an amazing bargain as well.

I’ve seen it in the store, and the picture is fantastic.

It has full 1080p HD resolution 4 HDMI ports, and a very generous 46” screen.

  

  

  

  

4. Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

Street Price: $350

 

---

 

If Samsung TV above is the value of the year for flatscreens, the Onkyo SR606 is the same for home theatre receivers.

Like the Samsung TV, it sports a whopping 4 HDMI ports, insuring that you can connect your HD Box, Blu-ray player, Video Game console and more all at once. At under $350, it’s a no-brainer.

  

  

5. Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Street Price: $156

 

---

 

Although I own the Canon PowerShot SD870IS for its wide-angle capabilities, there is no denying that the SD1100is is currently Canon’s most popular digital camera. I can’t argue with that a bit, because its cheap, small, takes outstanding pictures – and best of all, it’s a Canon.

  

6. Acer Aspire One 8.9-inch Mini Laptop

Street Price: $399

 

---

 

While the Asus Eee PC invented the ‘Netbook’ market to great success, companies such as Acer and Dell have thrown their hat into the ring with their own, often superior, interpretations.

Which brings us to the Acer Aspire, who’s blue and black models top Amazon’s bestseller list not just for netbooks, but the entire notebook category.

The Acer is cheap, capable, portable ,good looking, and unlike some netbooks has ample storage, good battery life, and more ports than my $1600 MacBook. It also runs Windows XP, which I recommend for anyone with a Netbook. Even as a Linux developer for 13 years, I can’t recommend Linux to average users, and Vista is too resource-intensive for lesser systems.

  

7. Kindle: Amazon’s Wireless Reading Device

Street Price: $359

 

---

 

This one is only for the heavy readers on your list, and even then, you may want to check with them before buying them one.

Although the Kindle leaves all other e-Readers in the dust, some old-timers still prefer the smell of fresh pulp.

  

8. Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Player

Street Price: $203

 

---

 

To tell you the truth, when watching most movies, I really don’t care if I watch it on Blu-Ray or DVD. On my 42-inch 720p plasma, they both look great, although I will usually get the Blu-ray version from Netflix if its available.

However, if you have a bigger screen, a 1080p set, or are just more finicky than me about picture quality, you will want a Blu-ray player. This is one of the first players under $200, and its way overdue.

  

9. TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

Street Price: $249

 

---

 

Getting and HD TiVo is a tough call, depending on how well you get along with your provider’s HD DVR.

If you were like me, and wanted to punch the television every time you used Cablevision’s HD-DVR, then you might want to consider the TiVo. Its gonna cost some money up front and a monthy fee, but the TiVo is always a pleasant and friendly experience.

  

10. Xbox 360 Console, PlayStation 3, or Wii

XBox 360 Street Price: $299

Playstation 3 Street Price: $399

Nintendo Wii Street Price: $315

 

---

 

I am embarrassed to say I own all three of these systems, but rarely ever play games on them (I prefer computer games). There is an interesting story for each.

I got the Xbox 360 because I wanted an HD gaming system with HD-DVD, and at the time I bought it, it was the only one. The strength of the Xbox 360 is in both its game library, which I think is the best of all 3 systems – in part because of decent legacy title support, but also because of Xbox’s exclusive titles such as the Gears Of War and Halo series. The Xbox Live network play system is also considered best in class.

  

The Wii was my wifes idea, and a good one at that. I had considered the Wiimote nothing more than gimmickry, but once you play Wii Tennis you realized its both revolutionary and fun. It’s the best system for all ages. Teenage boys may eschew its lack of more adult-themed titles.

  

The PS3 I bought kicking and screaming. I only got it because it has a Blu-Ray player, which had obsoleted my beloved $170 Xbox HD-DVD add-on drive. Now I had to buy a $400 gaming system just to watch HD movies, and I have never been happy about that fact. There are absolutely no games on the PS3 that I want which don’t run on the Xbox 360, so it remains nothing more or less than the most expensive DVD player I have ever purchased. Damn you Sony.

  

So why do I put the PS3 on the list? Well, if your kids are clamoring for a gaming system, but you also need a Blu-Ray player, it’s still a top choice to fill both requirements.