Shoppers can check CR’s last-minute gift list

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, stores are jam-packed with the latest and greatest electronic products, ranging from HDTVs to digital cameras to laptops. CR recently rated the best last-minute electronics gifts to help shoppers during this hectic time.

HDTVs

According to CR’s latest holiday poll, nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of shoppers plan to buy a flat-panel television for the holidays or after, with more than half (51 percent) gravitating to purchasing flat screens less than 40 inches. CR tested smaller sets ranging from 26 inches to 37 inches and found all were solid performers with 720p high-definition resolution and pleasing picture quality.

• 26-inch models. Both the ViewSonic N2690W, $590, and the Sharp LC-26SB24U, $600, are good choices.

• 32-inch models. The Toshiba Regza 32CV510U, $600, and the Insignia NS-LCD32-09, $550, are top values for their size.

• 37-inch models. Based on initial tests, the Insignia NS-LCD37-09, $680, and Toshiba 37CV510U, $730, promise strong performance.

A great addition to the new HDTV is a Blu-ray player, which has been dropping in price. CR found that the Sony BDP-S550, $330, is one of the lowest-priced models with BD-Live Internet connectivity and Bonus-View picture-in-picture.

Cameras

According to the latest CR tests, there are two new cameras that are sure to please with additional features and capabilities. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77, $300, is a subcompact with a 4x optical zoom and 10 megapixels, while the superzoom Canon PowerShot SX110 IS, $300, is a worthy successor to the discontinued SX100 IS. It has more megapixels, a 3-inch LCD and a scroll wheel for navigating menus, but it has no viewfinder.

For shoppers looking to showcase their photos during holiday parties, the Samsung SPF-85V, $210, is tops for digital picture frames. It has an 8-inch frame, good picture quality and a rechargeable, nonreplaceable battery that lets users view pictures without remaining tethered to a wall outlet.

Portable gifts

For music on the go, CR found that the best MP3 player on the market right now is the second-generation Apple iPod Touch 8GB, $230, which offers the same screen and interface as the original but costs $100 less. New features include a side-mounted volume control and a built-in speaker.

CR also tested portable DVD players and suggested three models that have good picture and sound quality, two headphone jacks and a battery life of at least four hours: the Toshiba SD-P91S, $155, with a 9-inch screen; the Sony DVP-FX820, $160, with an 8-inch screen; and the LG DP885, $190, with an 8.5-inch screen and a USB port that can access photos or music from a flash drive.

Computers

More than one-third of shoppers CR polled (35 percent) plan to buy either a laptop or a desktop computer this season. In CR’s testing, three laptop models stood out:

• The Sony Vaio VGN-Z540, $1,800, is a strong choice, at 13.1-inches and 3.3 pounds with a six-hour battery life. It also has a power-saving feature that lets users switch between higher-performance discrete graphics and battery-saving integrated.

• The Apple MacBook 13-inch, $1,300, and Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, $2,000, weigh in at 4.5 and 5.5 pounds, respectively. Touchpads on both are glass; instead of using buttons, users can click anywhere on the pad. They can also use multi-touch gestures, such as rotating a photo with their fingertips.

• The 15.4-inch Lenovo ThinkPad T500, $1,255, weighs 5.9 pounds, with a four-hour battery life, lighted keyboard, dual pointing devices, Core 2 Duo processor and 250GB hard drive.