That Time of Year Again

It's never too early to start thinking about holiday gift-giving.

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.