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.

Shipping deadlines loom large for online shoppers

Sure, there are still two whole weekends for shoppers to finish their holiday shopping (one of which is even a three-day weekend for those lucky enough to have December 24th off). But the deadline for the 65 percent of consumers who plan to do at least some shopping online is much closer, especially for those who don't want to shell out for express shipping. And, of course,  deadlines differ from store to store, making it difficult to decide exactly where to invest those precious few minutes of screen time. Fortunately, the folks at DealHack have put together a handy cheat sheet with the shipping deadlines for over 120 merchants.  While most are still offering standard shipping with delivery by the 24th, some — including name brands like BarnesAndNoble.com, CircuitCity.com and ToysRUs.com — have already slipped into express (or at least "expedited") mode.  Many more are moving in that direction this weekend, with most throwing in the towel on standard delivery by next Tuesday, December 18th. Some notable holdouts, according to DealHack: Zappos.com, which is offering standard shipping with holiday delivery all the way through December 21st, and Blue Nile, which stretches its deadline all the way to December 22nd. And remember, if you plan to send your gifts the old-fashioned way — by waiting on line at the Post Office — tomorrow's your last day for Parcel Post, though you can get those gifts out by Express Mail all the way through the 22nd.

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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Survey: Luxury stores not having a happy holiday

The financial worries that have plagued many shoppers for months seem to have finally reached into the upper echelons. Upscale retailers such as Saks, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus are all starting to feel the effects of the weakened economy. With high gasoline prices and and a falling real estate market, some who once felt confident shopping in these stores are starting to head for the discount retailers.

The last few years introduced the public to the concept of "masstige," luxury items aimed the masses. Luxury retailers that once catered to only the wealthiest, found that more and more people in the middle income range were clamoring for their products. The aspirational consumers, the ones who want to move steadily upward, are now retreating from the luxury stores they once flocked to. Nordstorm, Neiman Marcus and Coach have all reported slowdowns in their sales.

The wallet-watching is expected to continue among the wealthy. The American Affluence Research Center's most recent survey found that households with an average income of $256,000 are planning less spending in the future and are more focused on  "preservation of capital." And as we mentioned at the start of November, a survey by Unity Marketing showed that luxury consumer spending is at the lowest point in two years.

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.

Online shoppers have short attention spans

Are you a fickle online shopper? If so, you're not alone. A recent Internet shopping and browsing survey found that U.S. consumers have a short attention span when browsing for products online. The survey, which was commissioned by SLI Systems and conducted by Zoomerang, found that 73 percent of respondents are ready to leave an e-commerce site within one to two minutes if they don't find what they are looking for. And 54 percent said they would only click through two or three pages of search results before giving up. It turns out that a good site search is important to shoppers; 36 percent of people said that they would not return to a retail site with poor search. One thing is certain, Web sites don't have much time to convince shoppers to stick around if they don't find what they are looking for quickly.

Give a micro loan this holiday season

Looking for a holiday gift that will really keep on giving? How about turning a loved one into a humanitarian financier by giving them a Kiva.org gift certificate?

Recipients redeem their certificates to make “micro loans” directly to small entrepreneurs in 37 developing countries. Once the loan is repaid, the lenders can re-lend or withdraw the money, ultimately using it for that MP3 player or anything else they want.

It’s all done through the San Francisco non-profit group’s Web site, which features a profile of every entrepreneur seeking to raise him- or herself out of poverty.

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ShopSmart's top sites for holiday shopping

Our sister publication, ShopSmart, just launched a new site, filled with excerpts from the magazine's current and previous issues (along with a handy link to a new online subscription form). If you're not familiar with ShopSmart, you should definitely take a look. The featured item on the site right now is ShopSmart's guide to great web sites for holiday shopping. Among the picks:

• BuyDig.com, for electronics
• Oliebollen.com for kids
• Crane.com for stationery
• Taschen.com for books

Check out the full list here.

Toy test: Kids pick the season's top sellers

 

We asked 40 children, ages 6 through 12, to check out the fun factor in 24 toys that are expected to be hot holiday sellers this year. They range in price from less than $10 to $200. After a day of unstructured play, we asked the kids to tell us whether they liked or disliked each toy, and to choose a favorite. Based on that, we came up with this year’s list of hot toys, in order of popularity. >> More

Holiday lights: Are LED's a better deal?

Is it a bright idea to use LED lights for the holidays? We compared LED and incandescent bulbs in three sizes — mini, C7, and C9 — determining how much it cost to light strings totaling 50 feet for 300 hours. We also exposed the bulbs to moisture, hot and cold temperatures, and UV light, and sent each type of bulb to an independent lab that measures brightness. Read on to find out which kind of bulb is better for your lighting needs this holiday season.

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