Logitech Pure-Fi iPod Boombox ($120)

After some research into various iPod speaker systems, Chez Windowshoppist purchased one of these recently, and we are big fans. First of all, it comes with a zillion different docking ports. Some of us have shiny new iPods and others of us have fragile elderly iPods, so flexibility is important. This system is also tiny—tiny!—but with freakishly good sound quality. Finally (and very crucially for the deeply lazy), it has a remote control, natch, which will change songs, play, pause, switch modes, and so on. I know there are very fancy iPod sound systems out there, but for budget-minded types who nonetheless want something with nice sound, we recommend this system.

From Buy.com.

Mary Jane Crocs ($29)

Back in the day (you know, in aught seven, with the horseless carriages, etc.) I commented on the cuteness of the Mary Jane crocs, but I realized I never reported back as a proud MJ Croc owner.

I have the black ones, and they are really very nearly my daily shoe. You can wear them sockless (important in the hot Gulf Coast area) and your feet never get sweaty because of the fancy air holes. Unlike a lot of similar looking sandals, the MJ Crocs also never smell bad, despite all this sockless use and abuse. I assume they are imbued with some kind of miracle bad-smell-eating molecule, but maybe instead this is just an air hole function. Whatever, Shoppista is not an engineer.

What else do I love? Well, you can wear stripey socks with these if the mood strikes you, and little bits of your colorful socks peekaboo through the holes. Also, you can stand for hours—important for teachers and other professional standers-up—and your feet don't hurt because of the dreamy air-cushiony-ness.

In short, you should buy some of these. Try Zappos—they have free shipping!

West Bend Rice Cooker ($35)

When I first got this rice cooker, I was aghast at its controls, or rather, lack thereof. By some voodoo never fully explained, it cooks rice to disturbingly fluffy perfection every time with no human input. This is a little freaky, and it's possible there's some kind of wormhole or summoning of Elder Gods involved... but the rice is so delicious. (Steams vegetables, too.) From Amazon.

Review: USB Heated Gloves ($21)

Yeah, I've posted about these—twice—but that was before I got my very own set for Christmas. And now that I've tried them out, you're just going to have to listen to me rave.

First of all, they're very easy to set up, with two cords coming out of the gloves that attach to two low/high/off switches on a cord with a USB plug. So the gloves do require two USB plugs, but this turns out to be an advantage, because your left glove cords to the left, your right glove to the right, and thus the cords stay out of your way. It also means you can toggle the heat for each hand individually.

There are two heating panels: one on the back of the hand, and one on the topside of the mitten attachment. These can get very warm, but they don't get uncomfortably warm. If your hands are super-cold, you can always remove just a thumb or finger to operate your computer's touchpad and leave all your other fingers inside the toasty mitten for warmth.

The half-finger gloves take a second or two to get used to, but within half an hour, I'm typing at my usual speed. I can even leave my thumbs fully gloved and type away. And for once, my hands are completely warm.

You can make fun of me if you want, but these are the best Christmas present I got this year. I would recommend them to anyone with cold fingers. They also have a rocking Japanese kawaii vibe, but if you really want a more monochrome version, you can buy these.

OLPC XO and Amazon Kindle ($400)

At first glance, these products don't have a lot to do with one another. One's a stripped-down, rugged children's PC originally developed for third-world countries ("OLPC" stands for One Laptop Per Child, the nonprofit manufacturer's ultimate goal); one's a top-of-the-line E-Book reader intended for yuppies. But they have more in common than their price point (a cool $400): crossover functionality for both devices means they have a wide appeal, and they're both hot items for Christmas 2007.

The OLPC XO

Running on open-source software (which can be customized and then restored using included tools), it includes word-processing and other simple productivity software, a handful of games, and a super-powerful wireless receiver/transmitter (that's what those cute little antennae do). Its innovative screen works in three positions depending on use, one of which is a position ideal for both gaming and reading E-Books—and unlike every other laptop on the planet, it's completely readable in direct sunlight, thanks to an inventive mono mode. The whole shebang weighs in at three pounds, has an included handle, and can survive coffee spills on the keyboard as well as dropping from a height of four feet.

Downsides: The OLPC XO's kid-friendliness means adults are going to have to retrain their chunky fingers to use the teeny keyboard, and its stripped-down style means there are no fancy extras like a CD/DVD player. Its smallish flash memory also means you really can't store enormous files on the hard drive (do we store big files on ultra-portable PCs, though?).

The Amazon Kindle

Widely lauded as the first really decent E-Book reader, it's also readable in sunlight, thanks to its "electronic paper"-style display. Mad power management skillz make it possible to use continuously for 24 hours with wireless on before you have to recharge. And in addition to being able to buy E-Books from Amazon.com, you can get your newspaper subscriptions delivered wirelessly to your Kindle, check 250 pre-loaded top blogs that continuously update, and consult Wikipedia.

Downsides: The Kindle doesn't actually let you surf the internet freely (only those pre-loaded blogs, Wikipedia, and whatever content you purchase through Amazon), despite having free wireless access. It has no color mode, and using it to surf free E-Books available on the net and/or PDFs is either impossible or very difficult, depending on who you ask.

The Verdict

The OLPC XO has two huge advantages: you have access to the whole web, and because the OLPC XO is available only through a "Give One, Get One" program, a tax-deductible $200 of your $400 purchase sends a laptop to a needy child. The ruggedness and size makes it a great potential ultraportable device for grownups, and an even better My First Laptop for your kid. Don't forget that OLPC XOs are only available for purchase in the U.S. until December 31st, 2007. After that, the "Give One, Get One" program closes down and the laptops are only available through mass purchase to international programs.

The Amazon Kindle has its advantages, too: it's a very easy system for purchased E-Books, probably the easiest one out there. Its variable text size tool means it's a particularly good purchase for older readers who might want large print and prefer something easier to operate than a full-featured computer. Just don't expect to surf the web on it.

Neither retailer, thanks to huge demand, can absolutely promise Christmas delivery, so if you're planning to gift (or own!) either the OLPC XO or the Amazon Kindle, be sure to order ASAP for the best chance at getting your mitts on it in a timely fashion.