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Ho, Ho, Hold On A Minute!

There are three basic ways to go about buying gadgets:

1. Go to the mall. Yawn. Been there, done that. And so has everyone else.

2. Use professional recommendation. Find the coolest and best products with our Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide then go find them on Google's Froogle web site for the best price. This is a great way to go. You can't go wrong with the recommendations, because experienced, knowledgeable professionals have considered every product, and selected it from among all its competitors.

3. Browse coolest Web sites for unique, off-the-beaten path gadgets. One of the best ways to shop for holiday gift gadgets is to visit my list of cool catalogs and sites online. When you find the perfect product, you can either buy it from the site or skip on over to Froogle and look for a better deal. Here are the sites.

The Red Ferret Journal
This blog specializes in amazing, little-known products, and links directly to the online stores that sell them. Want junior to be the only kid on the block with a remote control Humvee that can drive up walls? How about a Hello Kitty cell phone? Or buy a working slot machine wristwatch for that compulsive gambler in your life? The Ferret has it all.

ThinkGeek
This nutty catalog specializes in fun frivolity for technical types, from gadgets to T-shirts to caffeinated soap.

The WIRED Store
You've no doubt heard of the technology magazine WIRED. But did you know they have a new store? They sell the kinds of things you'll find in the magazine's "Fetish" section, including solar-powered laptop bags and really cool laptops to go in them.

Extreme Toys For Boys
Yes, they have gadgets, but also geeky extreme sports equipment, such as gear you strap to your feet that enables you to jump six feet in the air, electric skateboards and off-road skates.

Hobby Lobby International
If it flys or floats and has a remote control, Hobby Lobby will probably have it, including the world's smallest remote-control helicopter.

American Science Surplus
This is a great place to find rare science-oriented gear, as well as some surprisingly frivolous toys. They also sell kits for building radios and robots.

Dynamism.com
Buying from this site almost guarantees uniqueness. Dynmism.com buys products that are sold only in Japan, imports them, and Americanizes them (by installing the English-language version of Windows on laptops, for example). Dynamism gear isn't cheap, but it's all cool and very unique. They also sell some of the wackiest USB memory drives around.

So this year, buy your friends and loved ones truly awesome, unique and battery-operated gadgets over the Internet -- and avoid the crowds, hassle and cookie-cutter sameness of the local mall!

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