Must-Have Gadgets

A full iPod MP3 player with a wide screen, the iPhone also packs in a version of OS X, true push e-mail, a 2-megapixel camera, and a 3.5" display with higher resolution than any current iPod.

The latest must-have video game console is the Nintendo Wii, which appeals to a broader demographic than the PS3 or Xbox 360. The Wii features a revolutionary motion-sensing controller, built-in Wi-Fi, an operating system with several Wii "channels," and backwards compatibility with GameCube games.

The second generation iPod Nanos are better, thinner, and cheaper than the first ones. The new Nanos have up to 8GB of storage and come in 5 colors (including pink!), They've also got brighter displays, scratch-resistant anodized aluminum cases, and up to 24 hours of battery life. Prices start at $149.

Winner of a Best of CES award, the 4GB SanDisk Sansa Connect works with subscription music services and lets you view photos, stream Internet radio, and refresh content wirelessly with a subscription to Yahoo Music Unlimited To Go.

Starting at just $1099, the MacBook delivers the power of the Intel Core 2 Duo — the latest generation of Intel processors — and a slew of innovative features, including a built-in iSight camera for video chatting on the go, iLife '06, Front Row, a glossy 13-inch widescreen display, and the ability to run both Mac OS X and Windows XP. A good choice for first-time buyers.

Watch your favorite TV programs almost anywhere with the help of the Slingbox A/V. This pint-sized device digitizes your home TV source and then streams it onto your home network or onto the Internet - so you can receive that stream on any broadband-connected Mac, PC, or Windows Mobile device. This means you can watch TV on your laptop or smartphone when you're thousands of miles away from home.

Smaller and lighter than the original DS, with longer battery life, the DS Lite has brighter screens with 4 brightness settings, a bigger stylus, and built-in Wi-Fi that lets them play wirelessly against their friends. They can play GBA games and DS games on the DS Lite.

If you're looking for a big, flat-screen TV with full 1080p resolution, consider the 46" Samsung LN-T4665F. You name it, it's got it: Built-in HDTV tuner, 3 HDMI inputs, a USB 2.0 port, a PC input, picture-in-picture, V-Chip parental controls, and even an auto volume leveler to prevent volume fluctuations (so the screaming used car dealer won't wake you up if you've dozed off on your couch). The only downside is the shiny screen (not an issue if your media room is always dark), but CNET still liked it enough to give it an "excellent" 8.3 (out of 10) review. More Samsung LCD TVs.

Capture high quality, high definition video with the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7, one of the first camcorders available that supports xvYCC, the latest "color space," which Sony calls "x.v.Color." This means that the camcorder can capture better colors, and display the full range of colors viewable by the human eye. The HC7 can capture 2.3-megapixel video and 4.6-megapixel stills. Other features include a Carl Zeiss lens with 10x optical zoom, a touch-screen interface, and 2.7" LCD. The camcorder records onto MiniDV.

Got bass? You will, if you get some V-Moda Bass Freq headphones. They deliver full bass bliss, with deep bass levels you can actually feel. Don't worry, the bass won't overpower everything else, but if you're into hip hop, electronica, rockabilly, or any other music where bass is king, you'll appreciate the difference these comfortable earbuds make. The headphones and cords come in 8 sassy colors, and are shipped with a modawrap cable manager for storing the cords.