Ramon McLeod, Editor, PCWorld.com
Today's mp3 players do a lot more than just play music. They play video, photo slideshows--some of them on a large 3-inch screen--and offer novel ways to acquire new music through online services. 
If you want something for uploading to a video-sharing website, consider a model that uses flash memory. The video they capture won't look so hot on a TV, but it'll look pretty good in a browser window.
The boom in GPS devices has sent prices crashing below $150, but before you go for the lowest-price model, consider that you can get many useful safety features if you're willing to spend a bit more. 
Apple's iPhone may be generating a lot of buzz, but it's certainly not the only smart phone around. These days, nearly all cell phones do more than simply make calls: they let you check e-mail, surf the Web, play MP3s, and--in some cases--edit documents.
Today, even the lowest-of-the-low-end system can perform everyday tasks like browsing the Web, e-mail and word processing; so $1000 or less will buy a Value Desktop that suits most people's needs.
With the wide variety of laptops available, your lifestyle -- or the person you're shopping for -- should be the starting point in determining what you buy. Do you travel a lot? Are you rough with your stuff?
This year many pocket-size point-and-shoot models are available in snazzy colors--red, black, pink, blue, and purple, so you don't have to settle for a boring old silver one. 
For snap happy families interested in producing 4-by-6 photos away from the PC, new snapshot models include surprising features like 3.6-inch displays and tempting prices starting at $100.
Looking for cool gear? You've come to the right place. We've assembled some of the snazziest gear around, from the useful to the gee-whiz gadgets that the tech fiend on your shopping list is clamoring for. 
Have you been holding out for the right LCD monitor, particularly a big stylish new widescreen? You can now buy a no-frills 22-incher for as little as $250 and decked-out ones are tempting, too, at less than $400.
