Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

• Price: $54.90 for Xbox 360 version at GoGamer.com
• Company: Activision
• Website: www.activision.com
• Editor's Rating:
• Tony Hawk's American Wasteland gives you - for the first time ever in a Hawk game - the freedom to skate, or bike, throughout a rich, expansive open environment. Once you arrive in Los Angeles, the vast city that gave birth to skate culture, the sky's the limit as you progress through the Wasteland story and choose missions that will have you immersed in the action without ever skating the same line twice! If you haven't picked up at Hawk game in a while, this is a great title to get back onto a board and see what you can do. We are trying this game out on an Xbox 360 and the graphics are fantastic compared to past Hawk games. Do yourself a favor, pick up TH American Wasteland at the same time as picking up your new Xbox 360. You might as well pick out a few of your own Christmas presents...Right?

Lite-On EZ-DUB External DVD Burner

• Price: $99.97 US at Walmart.com
• Company: Lite-On USA
• Website: www.liteonamericas.com
• Editor's Rating:
• By following a few very simple steps, users can now make a duplicate disc, or copy computer files to CDs or DVDs with greater ease and in less time. The new, high capacity / performance Re-Writable DVD Dual (+/-) format drive offers 8.5GB in Double Layer capacity, adding ample and cost-effective storage to its fast and easy-to-use functions. The EZ-DUB drive has two buttons on top of the external case. The DUB-button is for copying discs and the FILE-button is for backing up files. With this new, easy to use external drive, Lite-On aims at users who don't like to hassle with complicated software programs when they want to duplicate a disc or backup their files. Using simple disc back-up options like this is far less expensive than an external hard drive with one button back-up options. Not only do you get easy usability with the EZ-Dub you still get great Lite-On burning capabilities. This is a great gift item for that person in your life that doesn't back-up their data because they can't figure out a good way to do it.

Polaroid X530 Digital Camera

• Price: $299.99 US at Amazon.com
• Company: Polaroid
• Website: www.polaroid.com
• Editor's Rating:
• The Polaroid X530 digital camera features the Foveon X3 direct image sensor which, based on the color film principle, captures all of the color information in three pixel layers. As a result, color is reproduced naturally on each pixel location and the signal is converted with total precision into image information. This method differs from all other digital cameras, where several pixel locations are used to calculate the signal. With 4.50 Megapixel resolution and 3x optical and 4x digital zoom, an image editing menu which enables pictures to be edited directly on the camera, the X530 is definitely an option packed point and shoot camera. Initially I was very impressed with this camera, but after comparing the X530 and the previously mentioned i832, the X530 didn't have as much value for my dollar. The X3 sensor will have an appeal to people that are intolerable of any color variations from the real thing to their digital image. With the options this camera comes with in addition to the X3 image sensor will make this camera a great option. But for most users a camera such as the Polaroid i832 would make a better camera for the price. No matter the type of camera user you are buying for this holiday season, Polaroid has you covered with several digital camera choices with exceptional quality at very reasonable prices.

Nintendo GameCube

• Price: $99.00 US at Walmart.com
• Company: Polaroid
• Website: www.nintendo.com
• Editor's Rating:
• Because of all the hype this Holiday season regarding new or upcoming gaming systems it doesn't mean you should look past existing consoles such as the Nintendo GameCube. With newer consoles costing as much as a full PC, $100 for a gaming system can bring you and your family hours and hours of fun this Christmas. If you have younger kids you are looking to please, the GameCube probably has more available titles than both Playstation and Xbox as well as a large overall selection of used and upcoming titles. This makes it very easy to find titles that everyone will enjoy. If you want bring a lot of joy to the little ones in your family as well as keep a few bucks in your pocket, pick up a Nintendo GameCube this year. Just make sure you wrap it before you give it a try, or you won't be able to get it wrapped and under the tree before this kids find it. Merry Christmas!

Lite-On SOHW-1635S DVD Burner

Editor's Rating: