gifts

If you want to make someone really happy this holiday season, buy him or her a TV.

It doesn't have to be gigantic, and it doesn't have to be 3D compatible or stream video from the Internet. Of course, if it's any of those things the smile on the face of your gift-receiver might get even wider.

Our complete Holiday Gift Guide 2011 collects our favorite TVs of the year in four slideshow-based lists, but the one we think works best for gift-giving is right here:

All of these series of televisions come in multiple sizes, some as small as 32 inches and as cheap as $450, and as the holidays progress, we expect their prices to fall even more. If you decide to pull the trigger, be sure to check out some our holiday-specific buying advice before you commit.

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Let's get the disclaimers out of the way. No cats were harmed in the making of Bonsai Kitty Plush. Bonsai kittens were never real in the first place. ThinkGeek's plush toy version is not a real cat.

According to Snopes, the original bonsai kitten site was a tasteless joke that was taken down years ago. You can still view it through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine if you want to relive the outrage.

The site claimed to sell kittens that had been grown inside glass jars. You can understand why people freaked out, but it was all just a juvenile hoax.… Read more

CNET's Holiday Help Desk on CNET Live is back for seconds!

Hosts Molly Wood and Brian Tong will take live viewer calls, talk to the chat room, and answer e-mails. And dish out the best tech gift buying advice on the planet. This week's special guests include CNET 's TV Guru Senior Editor David Katzmaier, resident cheapskate Rick Broida keeps bringing us sweet deals, and Woot.com's VP of Retail Sales Darold Rydl joins us to talk about where to find some great deals and how Woot helped to start the craze.

We'll keep you posted … Read more

With all the crazy sales happening right now through carriers and retailers like Amazon.com and Best Buy, it's a prime time to shop for a new phone.

Easier said than done, right? Out of the dozens of excellent handsets out there, how do you begin to choose? You're in the right place. We've broken out some of our favorite smartphones and cell phones by speed and price, and we threw in a few nice accessories while we were at it.

Just keep in mind that the prices reflect the full retail charge, and not the ever-plummeting holiday cost. So enjoy, and happy shopping!… Read more

It seems as if everyone is looking for a holiday gift bargain this year, but the lowest price isn't always your best choice. To help consumers navigate their way through both online and brick and mortar stores, I spoke with PriceGrabber.com President Steve Krenzer.

"The best way to take advantage of the season is to prepare ahead," said Krenzer. "Have a good sense of what your objectives are, what your budget is, what types of items you're looking to buy and what are the must-have features versus nice to have features."

Krenzer said … Read more

It's the holiday season, and it's the time of year it's most obvious to us that we just can't be with all of our loved ones and good friends at the same time.

Fortunately, there are other ways to be connected.

Thanks to the Internet, you now can video conference in real time, even when you're driving on the road (make sure you use hands-free devices). Mobile Internet devices, for example, offer you a broadband-like connection as long as you're within the cellular coverage of the provider. And when you're at home, a … Read more

If you're wondering what to get for that special someone, here's the answer: get him or her a data storage device.

The truth is that we all need more storage for the ever-increasing amount of digital content created by other devices we use every day. To put it in a cheesy way, storage is just like love: you'll never have enough of it. You'll need to store most, if not all, of your beloved memories that are in the form of words, photos, and video. And you also need storage for the backups of those, too.

If that special someone happens to be a nerd who can truly understand the significance and awesomeness of computer storage, you'd likely score some bonus points.

Below you'll find my short list of storage devices that would make great gifts. Note that they are not all the amazing devices I've seen this year, since I can only pick so many. If you need more options to fit your budget, also check out CNET's storage page for top products and latest reviews. … Read more

Everyone has a gamer on their list this holiday season, so make sure to give my gaming guide a close look when choosing the right gift.

While Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 remain as the two dominating consoles, there's still a few titles for Nintendo platforms I recommend, including games for the 3DS, which has finally gotten some quality software in recent weeks.

After you've checked out my picks for games on each console, be sure to visit my accessories guide as well for gift ideas for the gamer who already has all the top titles!

Finally, if you're starting from scratch, I've updated my console buying guide for anyone who's just first getting into gaming this season. … Read more

Every winter, I fly out to England to join my in-laws for the holidays. As a result, I'm always packing a one-week supply of the gadgets I'll need to survive in the countryside, fully entertained, yet not overburdened.

It's a careful science: travel gadgets have gotten easier than ever thanks to devices like the iPad, yet you're more likely to pack redundant devices, too. The more options, the more headaches.

Here are a few of CNET's holiday recommendations for world travelers. Kindle? Check. iPad 2? Double-check. Battery-packs, surge protectors, headphones, cameras, and laptops? Of course. … Read more