Holiday technology shopping: What's hot this year

Technology features high on many holiday shopping lists, and while I can't make the list for you, here's an overview of what's expected to move fast off the shelves this season.

Personal computers

Laptop computers continue to dominate the PC market, thanks to performance that rivals desktop PCs without sacrificing portability.

In addition, laptops consume much less energy than equivalent desktop models, so they're a good choice for environmentally conscious people on your gift list.

For Macintosh users, your best bet is the powerful yet economical MacBook. It's a great laptop for novice and experienced users alike. Those who are heavy gamers, however, will prefer the 15" MacBook Pro, a higher-end model with a dedicated graphics card.

Windows users will find the Lenovo (formerly IBM) Thinkpad R series a capable, rugged, and powerful family of laptops. Frequent travelers looking for an ultraportable laptop may prefer the Thinkpad X series. Of course, you could also get one of the Macs mentioned above, run Windows natively on it, and have the best of both worlds.

Phones and PDAs

The cell phone at the top of the popularity charts is still Apple's iPhone. When it was released in June, it introduced a revolutionary interface for cell phones that has now spawned a few imitators but no equals. The device combines a great cell phone, music player, and Internet access in a sleek package.

If you're primarily interested in corporate e-mail access, the Blackberry Pearl may be a better choice.

The PDA world hasbeen clouded with uncertainty over the future of one-time industry leader Palm. In addition, the aging Palm OS makes it a poor choice for modern PDAs; the best bet in this market is a Windows Mobile device.

Smartphone users should consider the Samsung BlackJack, while those looking for a standalone PDA should be pleased with HP's forthcoming iPAQ 210 Enterprise or its current hx2400/hx2700 Pocket PCs.

Entertainment

Digital music players still make great gifts, and once again the undisputed leader in the field is Apple. The new iPod family offers models for every taste and budget, ranging from the tiny iPod shuffle to the latest family member, the iPod Touch.

Cameras

The most popular tech gift item last year was the digital camera, and sales remain strong this year. Choosing a camera, however, can be a daunting task. To read reviews of popular models, select cameras based on technical specifications and features, and compare prices, check out Digital Photography Review.

Finally, there are always technophiles for whom conventional gifts hold little appeal. For them, look no further than ThinkGeek, where you can find items that range from a new take on the traditional (the 8-bit tie) to the useful (a USB-powered drink chiller and warmer) to the truly bizarre (the Screaming Monkey slingshot).

Ken Doyle is a principal consultant for Loquent LLC, a Madison-based company that offers technology training and consulting services.