Gift-giving goes digital

By Christopher Strupp

When Santa comes to town, electronics may be filling his bag of goodies.

This holiday season, there will be an electronically-based Christmas, as many stores are offering top-of-the-line electronics to their customers.

“It’s all about digital living,” said Best Buy spokesman Jay Musolf.

Best Buy stores, including the one at 2074 Sycamore Road, will be offering products such as MP3 players, DVD players and digital cameras for holiday shoppers.

Plasma and LCD televisions are some of the hottest items this year, Musolf said.

Customers who purchase any plasma or rear-projection televisions also will receive a free DVD home theater system.

“The important factor is that gift givers are looking for technology and entertainment products for the people in their life and they want mobility and have us connect them to the right products,” Musolf said.

Two-thirds of Best Buy shoppers are looking for electronics and only 10 percent found the right gift last year, he said.

Radio Shack, 2690 DeKalb Ave., also known for its electronics, is looking to offer holiday shoppers some high-tech gizmos and gadgets for the people on its list.

One of Radio Shack’s major products this season is the Sirius Orbiter Satellite Radio Receiver, which allows customers to have uninterrupted radio programming in their car and home. The product has a portable receiver and comes with a wireless remote control.

Radio Shack also has cellboosts available for its customers. A cellboost provides emergency power when a cell phone’s battery has gone dead and will provide an extra hour of talk time.

While many retailers are excited about their products this season, the World Against Toys Causing Harm organization has released its annual “10 Worst Toys” to buy for children list. These toys are said to have the potential to cause childhood injuries or death.