Some of our Picks for the Holidays

By the staff at Digital Family Advisor

Our Favorite TVs

• High End over $1,500:  Panasonic PVT 30 series; Sony XBR ; Samsung 9000 series; Vizio XVT; Sharp LC 70
• Mid Priced $900 to $1,500:  Panasonic TC series; Vizio E3 series; Samsung LN 37
• Entry Level: Westinghouse, LG and Vizio (32 inch or under models)

Our Favorite Home Theater in A Box

• Yamaha  YHT under $400; Polk  Blackstone under $500; Denon DHT under $600

Our Favorite Blue Ray Players (all under $125)

• LG BD 670  Internet enabled Blue Ray Player; Vizio VBR 200  Internet enabled Blue Ray Player and Panasonic BD 75

Our Favorite Laptop To Replace Your Aging Desktop Units

• Toshiba P775 (under $800); HP Q6S (under $600); Dell Inspiron 15R (under $800)

Our Favorite Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

• Canon Power Shot SX 150 (under $250); Nikon Cool Pix 500 (under $325); Sony Cybershot DSC SX (under $300)

Our Favorite High End Headphones

• In ear: Sure SE 535 (under $400); Monster Turbine (under $200); Logitech Ultimate Ears (under $120)
• Over ear: Bose Quiet Comfort 15 (under $300) ; Audio-Technica ATH M50 (under $175); Monster Beats by Dr. Dre (under $300)

Some Recent Introductions

Underrated Tablets: Nextbook Premium 7, 8, 9
Who needs an iPad? With the abundance of new, less expensive, feature-rich tablets on the market, the iPad seems to have more status than substance lately. So why not show the world that you’re a savvy shopper instead? (Remember, frugal is the new black.) For yourself or to give as a gift, one of our favorites is the Nextbook Premium7, a 7-inch Android-based tablet with a built-in e-reader, built-in Wifi, and the Kobo eBook Store app included.

The SlideME application manager, OfficeSuite Viewer and ASTRO file manager make this tablet super intuitive, while 4GB of built-in flash memory, an SD card slot, built-in speakers  and G-sensor provide all you need at low, low Black Friday prices.

Need a little bigger screen? The Nextbook Premium 8 and 9 inch models are feature rich Android 8-inch tablets with street prices under $250 and $300 respectively. The Nextbook tablets support Flash 10.1, have built-in rechargeable batteries and 4GB of flash memory storage, plus Micro SD card slots for memory expansion.

E FUN APEN A4
Did you ever wish you could easily take your handwritten notes, drawings, and sketches and transfer them to your Smartphone, Mac or PC without the hassles of a scanner?

The APEN A3 from E FUN makes it possible. (Get it, A… Pen?) Simply write or draw on traditional paper with the a Pen (which includes regular ink). The APEN digitizes and stores up to 100 pages without being connected to a computer. Then send the files to yourself via email or transfer to your Android or Blackberry phone wirelessly with a Bluetooth connection.

Best of all, it looks and feels just like a regular pen. Truly the next generation of note-taking, the APEN A4 is a great gift for college students, busy executives, entrepreneurs… anyone who takes notes on the go. The A4 features enhanced compatibility with the iPad, iPhone and iTouch through a 30-pin connector, or use a wireless Bluetooth connection to sync your stored data to virtually any device. With a list price under $100, this is one of those useful yet affordable gifts that anyone is sure to love.

Club Penguin USB
Everybody loves penguins, right? These adorable icy dudes from the Disney Club Penguin online site make a great first USB drive for your tot or a whimsical stocking stuffer for Grandma. Celebrate the snowy season with your choice of Gary the Gadget Guy, Captain Rockhopper, or Cadence, all with 4GBs of storage capacity.

Tron USB
Nothing beats a classic — except maybe a well-done remake of a classic. When we found these 4GB Tron-themed “LightCycle” USB drives, we knew we’d finished shopping for more than half the guys on our list.

The 4GB black Sam Flynn Light Cycle and the limited collector edition 8GB white Kevin Flynn Light Cycle both come with a light-up wheel base, LED lights, sound effects and bonus content. Because if you have to save files, it might as well be fun.

Marvel Classics USB
I’m staring at my computer screen right now debating whether I should buy my nephews the Iron Man, Spider-man or Wolverine 4GB USB drive. But at this price (less than 25 bucks) I may spring for all. You’re never too young (or too old) to have a superhero USB drive, and these classic figures will save the day – and all your data!

High-Capacity Flash Memory Cards
For the professional photographer on your holiday list — or even the family photographer who fancies himself a pro — Duracell has introduced the ProPhoto line of high-capacity flash memory cards in Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) versions.

The SDHC cards transfer image files from camera to card, making it even easier to capture action sports shots and those “over-in-the-blink-of-an-eye” baby moments. The CF cards have read speeds up to 90MB per second.

Both formats are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB storage capacities.

USB Flash Drive with Facebook Credits
Fun, practical, handy (and inexpensive!) flash drives are the stocking stuffer of the year. For the Farmville addict on your Christmas list, a Duracell flash drive comes with 10 free Facebook credits good in games like Texas Hold’em Poker, Frontierville, Mafia Wars and, of course, Farmville. Available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB, starting at just $11.99.

Easy-To-Use Network Storage Solutions

Dane-Elec myDitto
Cloud storage comes home with the Dane-Elec  myDitto  network storage solution that makes it easy to set up your very own media center for under $150. myDitto is a plug-and-play solution for home network local cloud storage of movies, music, home videos and files of any type. This award-winning device frees up room in your home theater by helping you transfer all those CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays to one secure box accessible from any HDTV, PC or Mac on your home wireless network.

myDitto includes back-up capabilities so you won’t lose priceless data, and remote access through a USB key or a free mobile app on iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows OS.

Dane-Elec Capless USB
This is one of those handy techie devices that makes you smack your head and say, “I wish I’d thought of that!” The rounded case slides in and the USB flash memory stick pops out. It’s all one piece, so there no cap to lose! It comes in sizes from 2GB to 32GB and colors to match any personality. A great gift for students, teachers, techies, Secret Santa and grab bag gifts, and all those hard-to-buy-for names on your holiday list.

Magellan eXplorist 310
Here’s a rugged, waterproof, handheld GPS with a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen and pre-loaded World Edition map, expandable mapping and paperless geocaching capabilities. With an extended-life, 18-hour battery, this GPS will even outlast the kids’ whining on those long hikes. The eXplorist 310 is easy and intuitive for the novice user with all the core features required by more experienced adventurers.

Magellan eXplorist 710
If you’re looking for a GPS that can do it all, ask for the eXplorist 710. It may be pricey compared to other units, but it worth it. City Series USA Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Navionics/DigitalGlobe compatibility help this GPS transition from the car to outdoors. This rugged little package fits snugly in your palm and features a 3-inch screen. It also waterproof because, you know, stuff happens. We said this handheld GPS unit can do it all, and we meant it. A microphone, speaker, and 3.2 mega-pixel camera with autofocus makes it possible to geotag your photos, videos and voice notes. A 3-Axis Electronic compass is perfect for the Boy Scout in your family, and the Barometric Altimeter is just cool.

Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T
Help your favorite RVers or retirees “live the dream” with the Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T GPS. Equipped to enhance the RV experience, this robust GPS unit with a 7-inch touch screen comes pre-loaded with U.S. and Canada campground information (courtesy of the Good Sam club Trailer Life Directory) and customized RV/Truck routes. Map out trips based on vehicle height, width, length and weight for stress-free travel. It provides free lifetime traffic, Magellan exclusive OneTouch user interface, highway lane assist and Bluetooth connectivity to mobile devices. The unit also comes with a specialized heavy-duty Extension Mount that brings the GPS up close and personal.

Part of the Magellan Safety Series, the RoadMate Pro 9165T is compatible with the wireless back-up camera.

Magellan The RoadMate 9055-LM
More for less is the name of the game with the Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM GPS navigator. Equipped with a 7-inch touch screen, pre-loaded premium maps and six million points of interest, this full-featured GPS in the Magellan Safety Series lists for well under $300. It the first large screen GPS from Magellan to offer Free lifetime map updates. It won’t break the bank — but will help you find one easily, anywhere in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico. The built-in AAA TourBook makes it easy to plan trips on the fly or even select the perfect hideaway for a quick weekend staycation.

Magellan Wireless Back-Up Camera
Pulling out of a suburban driveway can be a stressful experience, with concerns of hitting a bicycle, pet or even a person. The Magellan Wireless Back-Up Camera is a thoughtful gift for Moms and Dads concerned about safety. (And doesn’t that describe us all?)

The device attaches to a vehicle’s rear license plate and transmits images directly to the compatible Magellan RoadMate GPS units in the Safety Series, including the 1700, 9055, 9055-LM and Pro 9165T. When the driver puts the car in reverse, the GPS navigation screen switches from map to “rear-view” mode, giving the driver a clear, 120-degree viewing area behind the vehicle for a range of 45 feet. The Back-Up Camera is both dustproof and waterproof.

GammaTech Durabook U12C Rugged Convertible Notebook
This is one holiday gift that solves the “tablet or notebook” debate quickly and easily. This 12.1-inch notebook computer converts into a tablet PC with a generous-sized, easy-to-use WXGA touchscreen. Perfect for the travelers on your list, (even if they’re just “traveling” to the local coffeehouse) the computer has a hard handle to make it easy to carry and is tested to Military 810G standard for drop, shock, dirt and spill resistance.

GammaTech Durabook S15C Rugged Notebook
Whether you work on a construction site or at home with kids, life can be rough on your computer. The S15C from Durabook is designed to stand up to it all, with a magnesium alloy case tested to Military 810G Standard for drop, shock, dirt and spill-resistance. The S15C features a  15.6”  HD display, comes with Intel® i7, i5 and i3 processors and Intel® HM55 chipset, its two dual-channel DDR III SODIMM slots provide up to 8GB of memory capacity and includes multiple security features.  The optical disk tray lock even prevents the tray from opening accidentally if the computer is dropped. Did we mention the work-at-home mom on your list would love one of these?

Emergency Connections
Some of the best things in life are free, and that includes peace of mind. Show loved ones you care by letting them know about Nixle Connect at Nixle.com. This website connects people with 4,600 government agencies so that these agencies can share important information and alerts in times of emergencies. Even if there not a large-scale emergency, the handy service lets you know about things like traffic accidents, missing children, break-ins and other activities in your area that could impact your daily actions or driving routes.

You can sign up to receive alerts via SMS text or email or just check the website to see what going on in your area or in other areas you designate. You can input multiple locations to keep tabs on vacation spots or regions where loved ones live. In an emergency, you’ll want to receive data from your local police and fire departments as well as government officials as quickly as possible. If knowledge is power, Nixle Connect will keep you stronger and safer in any situation.