S Hi Tech

Hi-tech holidays: technology gifts dominate this year’s shopping lists

The holiday season is officially underway and consumers will be hitting the stores to shop for their loved ones. Hot on holiday wish lists this year – technology. According to new data by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), about 80 percent of consumers said they want technology as a holiday gift, a slight increase from last year’s 79 percent and 75 percent recorded in 2007.

With endless gift ideas to choose from, coming up with your shopping game plan for this holiday season can be quite a daunting task, but there are tons of resources online that can help you narrow down your search. Need a place to start? Office Depot’s Top 30 Smart Gifts is a list of the “must-have” smart gift items to help busy holiday shoppers find that perfect gift this season. The list features the hottest products combined with extraordinary savings. Here are the season’s top gift ideas to consider when you are shopping this holiday:

• The HP Mini Netbook: The perfect mobile companion for the traveler, this netbook boasts an extra long battery life so you can remain connected while on the road. The HP Mini Netbook also comes with the new Windows 7 operating system pre-installed.

• Flip Video Ultra HD Camcorder: Don’t miss capturing any of your holiday memories. Record up to 120 minutes of video with the push of a button and easily upload your videos via the built-in USB adaptor.

• Sony Pocket Reader: With the Sony Pocket Reader, you can read your books electronically and store up to 350 of your favorite titles at a time. Perfect to take along while waiting in an airport or on that long flight.

• Ativa 7″ Digital Frame: Available exclusively at Office Depot for less than $40, this frame allows your loved ones to display their memories and is a perfect gift for family, friends or business associates. Preload it with some photos to make a truly personalized statement.

• Tom Tom 5″ GPS: Don’t be late to the holiday party this year because of bad directions. The Tom Tom 5″ GPS System plans the fastest routes based on traffic patterns, all with a new, larger display screen.

• Ed Hardy Faceplates for iPhone: Perfect for the teens on your list that are all about fashion, nothing makes more of a statement than Ed Hardy. Select from five Ed Hardy-designed faceplates manufactured to fit perfectly with an iPhone.

• For a practical last-minute tech gift, consider an Ativa 4 GB Fashion USB Flash Drive from Office Depot which can be used for anything from school to business work. It also makes for a great stocking stuffer.