If you’re brave enough to face the crowds, then you’re probably savvy enough to know that you need to do your research and plan your route.  Here are some tips to help.

Laptops

• No need to choose between portability, price, and performance anymore. The latest class of ultrabooks offers plenty of power and each system weighs in at less than three pounds.
• Don't shell out for extra gigabytes of memory. Unless you are running multiple memory-intense applications simultaneously, you should be fine with the 4GB that is standard with most new laptops.

Headphones

• If you generally have trouble finding in-ear headphones that fit your ear, look for a pair with different sized inserts. Many come with 3-6 different tips or ones that can mold to your ear canal.
• Be sure to check out the return policy before you buy. An uncomfortable pair might not bother you in the store, so this will allow you to trade them in if the fit becomes problematic after extended use.

Coffeemakers

• Many machines are programmable so if you like to have your coffee brewed and waiting for you, keep an eye out for this convenient feature.

There is more information on these as well as other things, like HDTVs, cooking ware, sewing machines and more that you might want to purchase here.