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Just call us your holiday search engine

Darrell Proctor, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 20, 2006 at midnight

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Handheld video games for the kids. A new audio system for Mom. A big-screen TV for Dad.

You're making your lists, and it's time to check out what's available in electronic, high-tech gear for gift-giving this holiday season.

We've outlined products priced both high and low, from inexpensive battery chargers to high-end laptop computers and high-definition televisions.

No matter what you're looking for, technology is your friend there's plenty to choose from. So get to the mall, or head to the Internet, and start shopping!

Jabra BT 125 cordless headset (Bluetooth)

• What it is: Wireless headset for Bluetooth mobile phones

• Web site:

• Price: Around $30

JVC Marshmallow headphones

• What they are: Soft, ear bud headphones that fit in the inner ear for use with MP3 or other music or audio/video players. Includes three different size earplugs for a custom fit. Uses JVC original 8.5 mm driver unit, the smallest in the industry.

• Web site:

• Price: $20

Laptop Desk 2.0

• What it does: Supports your laptop while in use (has a 21-inch work space) and keeps heat from the unit away from your body. It also elevates the screen and has five ergonomic typing angles.

• Web site:

• Price: $29.95

Deal or No Deal electronic game

• What it is: A battery-operated game based on the popular television show. It's for one to four players, designed for ages 10 and up.

• Web site:

• Price: $39.95

WinTV-HVR 950 hybrid TV stick

• What it does: Enables the user to watch analog cable TV or ATSC HD digital TV on a PC or laptop screen. It also can record shows to your computer's hard drive.

• Web site:

• Price: $99

Canon PowerShot A540

• What it is: Digital camera

• Features: Captures pictures and video with 6 megapixel resolution and a 4x optical zoom. Has a 2.5-inch LCD screen and 21 shooting modes.

• Web site: ,

• Price: $199.98

Coby TF-DVD170

• What it is: Portable multimedia player

• What it does: Plays DVDs and CDs, can work as an MP3 player and also has a TV tuner and digital AM/FM radio tuner.

• Features: A 5-inch widescreen, color display. Headphone jack for private listening. Full-function remote control. Runs on both AC and DC and includes a DC car charger. Fold-away handle for easy transport.

• Web site:

• Price: $169.99

iRobot Dirt Dog

• What it is: Think of it as a robotic shop vacuum.

• Features: The Dirt Dog can clean up the dirtiest places in a home or workshop. It can pick up small nails, dirt, sawdust and other messes, and will work on hard floors, carpet and other industrial surfaces.

• Web site:

• Price: $129.99

Pandigital photo frame

• What it is: A photo frame that can show your digital photos. Users can copy digital images from a memory card, digital camera or PC directly into the frame's internal memory. Four sizes - 5.6-inch, 7-inch, 8-inch and 9.2-inch.

• Features: At least 64MB of internal memory, multiple USB ports and 6-in-1 media card reader.

• Web site:

• Price: $129.99 to $249.99

Franklin Global Translator

• What it is: An electronic dictionary

• Features: Contains more than 450,000 words and 12,000 phrases, and speaks 115,000 words in recorded human voice. Enables communication in 12 languages and translations to and from Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

• Web site:

• Price: $229.95

Gateway HD widescreen LCD

• What it is: A 24-inch monitor that supports 1080p high-definition for a connected PC, cable or satellite TV, Blu-Ray or DVD player.

• Web site:

• Price: $679.99

Golf Launchpad

• What it is: A golf simulator

• What it does: Enables the user to play golf at home on the world's best courses and take on other competitors online

• Features: When you swing your clubs, the Golf Launchpad simulator measures your swing (club head speed, path and angle) and translates that into information that EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour software renders on-screen with realism and accuracy.

• Web site: ,

• Price: $249 for PC/Mac, $199 for PlayStation2

Harman Kardon DVD 27

• What it is: Progressive-scan DVD player

• Features: Very slim design (just 2 inches high). Has progressive-scan video with super-fine slow motion, a backlit remote and image-format playback from jpegs and Kodak Picture CDs, as well as MP3 and WMA audio files.

• Web site:

• Price: $299

Magellan RoadMate 2000

• What it is: A full-featured vehicle navigation with built-in battery. Simple touch-screen menus, turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance, built-in maps, and nearly 1.3 million preprogrammed points of interest.

• Web site:

• Price: $399.99

Staples MailMate

• What it is: A document shredder that fits on a kitchen countertop or office desk.

• Features: Can shred up to 10 folded sheets of paper, as well as CDs, DVDs, credit cards, staples and small paper clips.

• Web site:

• Price: $69.99

MicroKey Flash

• What it is: USB storage device

• Features: Available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities. Weighs 2.5 ounces. Has a swivel interface to allow easier access to any USB port. Comes with a protective carrying case and can clip to a belt.

• Web site:

• Price: $79 to $229

Pioneer AVH-P7800DVD

• What it is: In-dash multimedia receiver.

• What it does: Turns your car stereo into a home theater. You won't be able to watch it while driving (at least fellow drivers hope you're not watching it), but your passengers will love it.

• Features: 7-inch high resolution touch screen LCD that displays DVDs, photos and videos. It's also iPod, Bluetooth and satellite radio ready.

• Web site:

• Price: $2,200

Pyramat Sound Seat

• What it is: A chair that provides "bone-rocking" surround sound

• Features: Includes dual 8-watt speakers and a 50-watt subwoofer. Compatible with nearly all major gaming systems; also connects to iPod, MP3 player, TV, VCR or DVD. And it folds in half for easier storage.

• Web site:

• Price: $149.95

Seagate 6GB pocket drive

• What it is: A data storage device that fits in your pocket.

• Features: This is a special edition "Backing up the Cause" storage device; 10 percent of the proceeds from each sale go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It comes preloaded with songs from Joan Jett, Stefy and Alana Davis, among others.

• Web site: ,

• Price: $109

Infinity TSS-500 Compact Home Theater Loudspeaker System

• What it does: Home theater sound

• Features: Four wall-mountable satellite speakers, a wall-mountable center channel speaker and a subwoofer

• Web site:

• Price: $549

AutoMax Disc Repair System

• What it does: Fixes scratched CDs, DVDs, PlayStation 2 and Xbox games

• Web site:

• Price: $39.99

Disney Game It! Classic Pals

• What it is: Portable video gaming device

• Web site:

• Price: $39.99

Microsoft Natural Wireless Mice

Laser Mouse 6000 Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000

• What it is: Wireless mice for notebook/laptop computers

• Web site:

• Price: Laser Mouse 6000, $65 to $75 at various online sites; Presenter Mouse 8000, around $85 to $100

Turbo Charge

• What it is: Cell-phone charger

• Features: Uses one AA battery, providing up to two hours of talk time and 40 hours of standby time

• Web site:

• Price: $24.95

ZyXEL X-550 XtremeMIMO Broadband Router

• What it does: Helps establish a wireless broadband network, priori- tizing network traffic. It features up to 108Mbps Super G in Turbo Mode Wireless and multiple input/multiple output Smart Antenna Technology.

• Web site:

• Price: $70 to $80, various retailers

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