I am pretty proud to say that this Black Friday, I picked up a load of brand new toys. As I was growing to be rapidly disenchanted by the amount of sold out items online on Thanksgiving, I realized that I would have to go into guerrilla attack mode if I wanted to get anything the following day. The original plan was to wake up at an ungodly hour to get to Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. to acquire everything I needed. I hit snooze on that idea, and was lucky enough to still pick up mostly everything I wanted.

Here’s what I got, with anecdotes.

Gaming

• XBOX 360 Pro w/ Guitar Hero II Bundle {$350}: It was nearly noon, and I was pretty sure these bad boy bundles would be swept up clean from Best Buy. I was unsure if I wanted to stake my birthday gift on the console and decided I would leave it to fate. When I walked in, I instantly checked to see if any were left–there were 2. I put one on hold and as a result, I have now chosen a side in the console wars! The only catch is that I can’t open it till my birthday. Guitar Hero III? Ya, I know there is a bundle with the console now, but I just need the game. Santa better have that covered.

• Forza, Top Spin 2, Ninja Gaiden Black, Dead or Alive 3, SSX, Robotech Battlecry {+/-$60}: Gamestop/EB Games was having a “buy 2, get 1″ promotion, so I snagged up a bunch of titles that I have played in the past [and are backwards compatible], or got a pretty high rating on Gamespot or IGN. Needless to say, I am psyched to play all these games. I even saw the rare and legendary Marvel vs. Capcom 2 at my local EB, but I think that I’ll have to wait until I splurge on that $70 dollar gem.

GPS

• Tom Tom One LE GPS {$120}: Since I get lost often, I really feel that this may be the most time-saving purchase that I made. It’s compact, has a nice display screen, and I really enjoy the library of voices [stupid feature to discuss, but I love it.] The big problem that I had with Mr. Tom squared was that when I tried to update the map, I got an internal server error. According to a number of forums, it’s a common problem that’s been happening in light of the TT folks updating their site. Hopefully, the site will be ready to roll soon so the Tom Tom nation can get on with their travels.

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Tivo and most DVR technologies have been around for many years, but I have yet to indulge in this functional piece of equipment.

This is a big admission considering that I am relatively tech savvy and do fancy gizmos. I really don’t mind spending a good amount of cash when it comes to gadgetry, and know that DVRs plus the service isn’t that much more then I currently pay for cable. But now, I’m questioning whether or not to take the leap…

First off, to get a DVR, it seems that you have to have digital cable. Believe it or not, I don’t even have that. My family and I have had the same cable service for years now and have never really felt the need to upgrade. My father still records his weekend cultural programs on VHS, and I continue to rush home to watch a number of programs. We have had no problem living in the dark ages of television thus far.

In the busy lives that we all lead, I still think it’s fun to have a show to look forward to and not on demand.

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Usually when one thinks of the word “shiny”, positive thoughts come to mind. A shiny car, a shiny new penny, and the rad indie-punk band, Shiny Toy Guns. The word and aforementioned things are nice, but there are a few situations where we shouldn’t all shine on; noses, bald heads, and finally, laptop/desktop LCD screens.

The good news is that shiny noses and heads can be dabbed down with powder foundation. The bad news: the treatment for an LCD screen is not as simple. While visiting my Uncle up north, I was wowed by his new HP widescreen laptop for its multimedia displays [via Windows Vista], along with sleek design. I was not, however, impressed by the uber shiny screen.

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I have been the proud owner of a Blackberry Pearl for a few months now. I love the lustrous design, and my fingers have even become accustomed to the teeny tiny qwerty keyboard.

Despite it’s user friendly interface and mad organization skills, the Blackberry folks really missed a beat with one minute detail. A singular piece of metal which has made this Pearl user want to chuck it out the window. It is nothing more than the flimsy sim card clip.

You would think a phone that cost a couple hundred dollars would be made with quality materials. So far, my buttons have not faded despite abundant texting, plus the color-vivid screen has minimal wear and tear. The battery life is commendable for a smart phone, and the edge feature is top notch. But why couldn’t they invest some time and effort in something as simple as a sim card clip?

At least one to two times a day, I get an error message on my Pearl. In the corner, there is a red “SOS” and a message that I can only make emergency calls as I have a sim card error. Seeing as how my parents and friends are not local 911 dispatchers, this poses a problem. I then have to shut my phone off, or do a hard reset.

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Finding a laptop bag is not meant to be hard; there are more obscure pieces of technology that take an entire scavenger hunt to locate. Take for example, my laptop keyboard’s control button. That puppy popped off and I thought I would never hear the happy tap of my “Ctrl” button again. But, thanks to some friendly powncers, I acquired a new one on eBay.

As I have discovered in the past few days in Seattle, finding a case which holds a fresh flashy laptop can be difficult. My uncle has a spanking new 17″ widescreen HP which requires a bag that can protect a laptop of that size, preferably with wheels, lightweight, and under $50. I looked at online retailers, as well as on foot at Fry’s, Circuit City and Office Depot. A few bad salesmen later, no luck.

The search finally ended at Best Buy. I found a lightweight Targus messenger bag for $25.99, on sale for half price. The compartment for the laptop has a good amount of padding, though the shoulder strap could use a little more. The bag also features an accessory organizer and cell phone case. No wheels, but it’s still not a bad buy for 25 bucks!

Big screen laptops are here to stay. I think it’s time that bag makers get with it and provide more wide-load friendly gear with a smaller price tag.