Think back to before the internet, way back to before you started compiling a web history (and then deleting it before your boss or wife saw it), before Pandora and iTunes, before Paypal and online bill pay, when you had to calculate your fantasy football league’s stats by hand, when you’d never heard of streaming video or YouTube, all the way back to the days before online shopping. Scary, right? All we can say is, thank God for Al Gore. Wait, he didn’t invent the internet? Okay, but still, as we move beyond Thanksgiving and into December, it’s safe to say that we’re all thankful for the internet, for the hours upon hours (upon wasted hours) of entertainment it’s given us, for its power to connect us to friends and family, its ability to distract and engage, and for allowing us to get all of our Christmas shopping done without having to step foot into a store. Brilliant, if you ask us, which is why we come back each and every year with our Holiday Gift Guide.
As usual, you’ll find all sorts of ideas for all sorts of people on your list, as well as a bunch of items that you’ll no doubt want to add to your own wish list. And because we understand your desire to avoid the holiday rush, we’ve added buy links throughout our guide so you can wrap up your shopping with a couple clicks of your mouse!
MOVIE DVDs
We include some classics like “Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 35th Anniversary Edition.”
TV DVDs
There are some great full series collections from shows like “24” and “Deadwood.”
GADGETS
We have cool pocket camcorders and more.
GAMES
With the release of potentially game-changing peripherals like the Microsoft Kinect and Sony Move, this year feels an awful lot like 2006, when gamers were forced to decide between the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.
MUSIC
There’s some amazing stuff this year, like The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story from Bruce Springsteen,
FOR HER
We have some suggestions, but just make sure you put some thought into it!
GUY STUFF
We include some great booze selections this year with Johnnie Walker Scotch and Cabo Wabo Tequila.
2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Check out last year’s guide for more ideas!
