| Everybody remembers the Cabbage Patch Doll, Furby, | | | | Player ($299.99) - holds photos, video, and music and |
| Tickle Me Elmo, Nintendo Wii, and other | | | | has a 4.3 inch LCD screen |
| impossible-to-find gifts of Christmases past. There | | | | - Fisher-Price TMX Tickle Me Ernie ($24.99) - just like |
| seems to be one or two products every year that | | | | Elmo, but with Ernie's personality |
| people (mostly kids, but some grown-ups) just have to | | | | - Zhu Zhu Pet Hampster ($9.99) - interactive |
| have under their tree on Christmas day. Nobody | | | | mechanical rodent (enough said) |
| knows exactly why these products go viral - maybe | | | | - Motorola T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone |
| it's scarcity, maybe it's great marketing, or maybe they | | | | ($82.64) - this allows you to connect your phone to |
| just strike a chord with the masses - but every | | | | talk and listen to music hands free |
| Christmas season there are one or two that become | | | | - Kindle 2 ($259) - this wireless reading device is hot |
| the must-have gifts. | | | | for book lovers |
| Mommy, I Have to Have That! | | | | Rush Out and Get Them All |
| So if you haven't already completed your 2009 | | | | Okay, maybe you don't need them all -- and maybe |
| shopping, just what are the hot Christmas gifts this | | | | you don't need any of them! But these are going to be |
| year? Here is a list of the Top 10 (and maybe a couple | | | | the big items for 2009 and if you have that special |
| more) that will vie for the title of Must-Have 2009: | | | | someone that has to have one of these, you better |
| - Nintendo Wii ($199.99) - yes, this physically interactive | | | | act fast to get them by the time Santa comes down |
| game console is still popular and hard to find for 2009 | | | | the chimney. Traditionally the hot Christmas gifts are |
| - Canon Digital Rebel XTi ($1499.95) - this 10.1 mp digital | | | | scarce and people scramble to find them in time. But |
| SLR has a 2.5 inch display | | | | don't get carried away and pay huge mark-ups to buy |
| - Pleo the Dinosaur ($349.99) - this UGOBE life form is | | | | them by December 25th. Anyone who paid $500 for |
| a robot with a personality | | | | a Tickle-Me-Elmo probably regretted it by January 1st. |
| - Transformers Movie Optimus Prime ($149.99) - | | | | Most of these products will be available at retail prices |
| battery operated robot-to-vehicle figure | | | | in January, so if you don't mind giving an IOU and being |
| - Hasbro FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony ($299.99) | | | | a little late with your gift; wait until they are widely |
| - interactive plush pony that responds to its owner | | | | available and at regular prices. |
| - Spinmaster Air Hogs Battling Havoc R/C Helicopters | | | | Remember, Christmas is about more than gifts - and |
| ($169.99) - radio controlled copters that battle for air | | | | chances are your loved ones will be satisfied with |
| superiority | | | | whatever you choose to give them - as long as it |
| - Fisher-Price Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane ($775) - | | | | comes from the heart. So happy hunting and good |
| battery operated ride-on vehicle that your child can | | | | luck spotting the last Zhu Zhu on the shelf at the local |
| drive at up to 5 mph | | | | mega-mart. Just make sure that the rodent you grab is |
| - Creative Zen Vision W 60GB Widescreen Multimedia | | | | a robotic one. |