Top Ten Electronics Gifts for the Holidays - Part 1

So this week, as promised, I am kicking off my list of top ten holiday gifts in the consumer electronics realm. The following represents the types of products that look to be hot sellers this holiday season. To make the list seem less broad, in some cases I have picked specific brands that will likely be at the top of everyone's wish lists in their respective categories.

I really tried to focus this list on those items that have been reduced in price and--coupled with some great Black Friday sales or Cyber Monday deals--could be scooped up at a tremendous bargain. After part two next week, if you agree, disagree or are left wondering why your most sought after item didn't make the cut, drop a comment and let's keep the discussion going until the last of the turkey is gone and the mistletoe starts to whither away.

10) Next Gen Consoles - Coming in at the number ten spot are what are really at this point, the "Now Gen" consoles. With a recent drop in price for its PS3 and the release of the more streamlined PS3 Slim, Sony has positioned themselves to do quite well this year. Retailing at just $299 for the 80GB model it is comparatively priced to match the Microsoft Xbox 360, which previously underwent a reduction in price across all models. The Wii comes in at just $199 and is the perfect fun-time party gift for the entire family to enjoy. The PS3 and 360, now serve as more moderately priced multimedia machines. They are stellar Blu-ray and DVD players respectively. The added Netflix download capabilities are also a plus. There are a number of bundles and discount packages with games, extra controllers, and generally just more bang for your buck available from retailers like Best Buy, Gamestop, etc. on shelves and online just in time for the gift giving season.

9) iPod Nano 5G - If you loved any of the previous generations of Apple's successful portable then you will find a lot to like in the 5G. This latest version comes with a video camera located on the back and is nicely priced at $149 for the 8GB model and $179 for the 16GB version. The 5G is also equipped with a speaker and a microphone. Even cooler still is the FM Receiver with "Live Pause" capabilities packed within the lightweight frame. Battery life on the 5G also seems to have been boosted.

8) Sony Webbie HD (pictured above) - The Webbie is a sleek, pocket-sized, budget friendly HD video camcorder. No bigger than an average cell phone, the Webbie is perfect for users looking for an easy-to-use compact cam to upload on-the-go videos to sites like YouTube. It video captures in full-motion 1080p at 30 fps and comes in three colors: orange, purple, and silver. Obviously the HD quality of the videos will not equal that of the more top-shelf camcorders, but for its small size it more than gets the job done in terms of clear fluid images.

* Special mention also goes out to the Flip Mino, which I personally find to be a very cool, easy-to-use, lightweight portable camcorder.

7) Amazon Kindle - E-book readers have really caught on in the past year and leading the pack is the Amazon Kindle. The latest model, the Kindle 2 is significantly cheaper than its larger screen cousin the Kindle DX. After a $60 price cut a few months back, the Kindle 2 is usually no more than $299. There are always deals to be found and while nothing quite beats holding a creased paperback in your hand, this does make it easier to carry multiple books, articles and the like with you on those long trips. The Kindle DX is probably better for those who will get the most out of this model's built-in PDF conversion capabilities. College students will like the fact that it means they won't have to carry around as many textbooks. The DX is bulkier and not as portable as the smaller Kindle 2 and comes in at just under $500.

6) Roku Digital Media Player - Finally we have what is arguably the best in the arena. Coming in at just $79.99 to start, the Roku digital media player is practically a steal. Basic specs on the plus side: This box is a nice alternative to cable or satellite as it streams shows and movies from a large portion of the Netflix "Watch Now" library as well as Amazon Video-On-Demand service. The Netflix unlimted subscription viewing option starts off at a low $9 a month, while Amazon is on a pay-per-view basis. The Roku is also very easy to set up and offers free viewing via PC. As stated, pricing starts at just $79.99 for the Roku SD which has built-in wi-fi. The Roku HD is priced at $99.99 and plays high-definition video. Finally, the more high end Roku HD-XR has extended range Wireless-N and is priced at $129.99. All three allow you to connect effortlessly to the internet, and to pause or replay whatever you are watching.

Next week, I tackle the top five. I'll be talking about all things Android powered, as well as touchy-feely computers, navigating your way from lost to found, streaming in digital, and operating systems more highly anticipated than the last Superman film, but far less disappointing. In the meantime, look for more info, deals and advice on Twitter @SavingsGCapes.