More CR picks: Last-minute GPS deals

It's no secret that portable GPS systems are among the most popular gifts this holiday season. Which means that it's a good bet that someone on your gift list wants one. If that's the case, we're here to help. We've Rated many of the leading models (Ratings are available to subscribers), and have also compiled a list of some of the best GPS deals at leading retailers, which you can find here. And if you're still not sure what features you need to consider when buying a GPS, click the image above to watch our video shopping guide.

Nintendo Wii: How to give one this holiday

If you want to put a Wii under the tree this year, you can still do it, if you're willing to brave early-morning lines, high prices or the disappointed look you'll get when handing over a virtual gaming console. CR's Paul Eng outlines the options, which essentially include shelling out $400 or more for a "bundle" including accessories and games that you may or may not want; picking up a Wii gift card that guarantees a unit in January; or lining up in frigid pre-dawn temperatures in front of New York's Nintendo World store and waiting for the doors to open. Eng did just that earlier this week, and reports that he managed to pick up a unit for $250 after waiting a mere three hours. But don't assume you'll get off as easily; Eng reports that, on his foray, at least one intrepid soul had begun his wait at 8:00 the previous evening, and as December 25th gets ever closer, more Wii-wishers may find themselves joining that late-night crowd.
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CR picks the season's top electronic gifts

If you've already gone through our holiday gift guide, and still can't find anything to please that special someone, here's another batch of goodies: Our picks among the latest crop of consumer electronics products, including some that have topped our ratings and others that look good based on our initial impressions. Prices range from $100 for a snapshot printer, up to $4,500 for a 52-inch HDTV. Some of our choices:

• Nikon D40x digital SLR, $750
• Philips 7FF2CME digital picture frame, $180
• Sony KDL-52XBR4 LCD TV, $4,500
• Cowon iAudio7 MP3 player, $200
• Canon Selphy CP740 snapshot printer, $100

You can find the full list here.

Kindle shortage could be boon for Sony - and some consumers

If an ebook reader was on your list this holiday season, you're in luck — sort of. Although the hottest new model, Amazon's wireless Kindle reader (pictured), is sold out and back-ordered, the Sony Reader, which uses the same e Ink technology but requires a computer connection to download books, is still available, for about $100 less than the Kindle. Of course, you don't get the Kindle's web browser or integration with your Amazon.com account. But you can get the Sony Reader now, and Sony's throwing in a hundred classic (i.e., public domain) ebooks for free.
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Bluetooth headsets: Good stocking stuffers?

While a mobile phone may not be at the top of your holiday shopping list, there's one accessory that may appeal to many of your always-connected cohorts: A wireless Bluetooth headset. Prices for headsets have continued to drop, and what was once a luxury item can now be purchased for as little as $30. Of course, smaller headsets, or those with advanced features, can easily top $100, so a Bluetooth rig, depending on cost, can function as either a stocking stuffer or a primary gift. Here's some advice on shopping for headsets. ConsumerReports.org subscribers can also review our Ratings of 34 models, including some stereo headsets suitable for music playback.

Black Friday and the Web are shopping solutions for holiday procrastinators

If you're not among the five percent of consumers who have completed their holiday shopping, you're in good company. We're just days  away from Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, when retailers roll out the red carpet early and roll down their prices), and nearly two-thirds of holiday shoppers have yet to crack open their wallets. That's one of the findings of the most recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. In the survey conducted earlier this month, less than half of women (46 percent) and less than a third of men (30 percent) had gotten a start on their gift buying.

Some of those shoppers are planning to storm the stores on Black Friday. Others, however, prefer to shop in the quiet of their homes — or sometimes quietly at work — by visiting online retailers. Whatever the venue, clothing is top of the list for most Black Friday shoppers (79 percent) followed by electronics (70 percent).

Small gadgets like iPods and other MP3 players, video game systems and digital cameras are the most coveted electronics items, but a lot of big flat-panel TVs will be carted out of the stores as well. And this year women seem almost as keen on them as men. Almost as many women (45 percent) as men (49 percent) who plan to buy a flat-panel TV said they are considering one 42 inches or larger. Here are some other major findings:

Black Friday
More shoppers plan to take advantage of so-called Black Friday doorbusters this year than last, with 24 percent of respondents saying they'll brave the crowds, up from 20 percent last year. Respondents in the 18-to-34 age bracket will help make it a big shopping day, with 34 percent planning to hit the stores.

Black Friday shoppers say their gift lists include clothing (79 percent), electronics (70 percent), toys (64 percent), gift cards (58 percent), jewelry (40 percent), small appliances (35 percent) and recreational or fitness equipment (23 percent).

To get the advertised specials, 12 percent of respondents say they plan to stake out a place in line waiting for the store to open. Last year 14 percent of those asked queued up to get a bargain.

Online shopping
The survey also showed a growing preference for shopping online instead of standing in line. More than two-fifths of adults (42 percent) will shop online this year with more women joining the gift-clicking crowd (41 percent this year vs. 37 percent last year). The main allure, those surveyed said, is convenience (48 percent) but some shoppers say they go online for better selection (12 percent) and better prices (11 percent).

Most online consumers shop from home (95 percent), but among those surveyed who work full-time, 21 percent said they shop from work. Of those, 15 percent admitted to shopping during work hours.

Evenings are the most popular time of day to shop online, especially for males (63 percent) and consumers ages 18 to 34 (64 percent). Three-quarters of online shoppers do not have a day of the week when they typically shop but for those who do, shopping online peaks with 43 percent of respondents shopping the Web on Saturdays, followed by 20 percent on Sundays, 11 percent on Fridays and lesser numbers the rest of the week.

Does shopping online save time? Apparently not. Those with Internet access from home will spend about 11 hours shopping online and that's about the same amount of time — 10 hours — as the general public.

Flat-panel TVs
Nearly one in 11 adults is planning to purchase a flat-panel TV for the holidays. Of those, 54 percent expressed a preference for an LCD television and 29 percent plan to purchase a plasma. The rest were unsure what type to buy. That uncertainty, however, was not as evident when respondents were asked what size screen they plan to get — 47 percent plan to buy a screen 42 inches or larger.

While size mattered more to men (54 percent) than women (36 percent) last year, this year the gap has narrowed with men (49 percent) and women (45 percent) setting their sights on a screen 42 inches or larger.

The gap also narrowed in what men and women expect to pay for a flat-panel TV. Last year men were willing to pay an average of $1,700 for a flat-panel, which was $240 more than women on average. This year men are still planning on paying more but on average only $110 more than women expect to pay. Prices have fallen and this year consumers expect to pay up to $1,300 for a flat-panel.

No longer just a guy thing, flat-panel TVs have a stronger appeal to women this year. Among married couples, the top reason men want a flat-panel is for a better picture (44 percent) while the key reason for women is that it frees up floor space (27 percent) followed by it's something her partner really wanted (24 percent).

Eight percent of respondents who do not plan to buy a flat-screen TV before the holidays said they plan to buy one afterwards. The reason, most said, is that it was too much money to spend right now (40 percent). Last year, 31 percent of consumers who planned post-holiday flat-screen purchases said they did so because they expected prices to drop. This year only 22 percent of respondents have that expectation.

Methodology: The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,009 interviews were completed among adults aged 18 and over. Interviewing took place Nov. 1-4. The margin of error is +/- 3% points at a 95% confidence level.

Best HDTVs for any budget

If a high-definition TV is on your holiday shopping list, here's news that could have you smiling all the way to the store: Thanks to continuing price cuts, you're going to get more TV for the money than you would have last year.

Prices are expected to be about 30 percent lower on average than during the 2006 holiday season, with even steeper drops on some TV types and screen sizes. Want more info? Our full report is available here, with free tips on picking the right plasma or LCD set at prices from under $1,000 to over $2,500. And if you're a ConsumerReports.org subscriber, you can use our Ratings to help you pick the exact model to meet your needs.

Report: Electronics shoppers who do research online spend more in stores

Common wisdom dictates that researching products online may save you money. But a new study indicates that isn''t necessarily the case. The survey, conducted for Yahoo by Channel Force, found that gadget-shopping consumers spend 10 percent more on TVs and digital cameras that they buy in stores if they research them online first.  As reported by MediaPost, Channel Force held 1,100 in-person interviews at major electronics and big-box retailers earlier this year. Shoppers who used search engines before coming to the stores spent an average of $31 more on digital cameras and $139 more on TVs.  Over half of the customers had specific brands in mind and most bought one of the brands they were looking for.

Does this mean you shouldn't do research online? No, but you may want to consider which sites you visit to do that research (hint, hint). The tools these shoppers used included retail Web sites (73 percent), manufacturer sites (68 percent) and search engines (49 percent). Those surveyed weren't very knowledgeable about advanced features of products and 75 percent didn't have a specific model in mind before shopping, despite their online research.