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Cybele and Rich Brooks enjoy Guitar Hero 3 on their HD Plazma TV, which becomes available after their kids go to bed.

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Maya Brooks, 5, waits her turn as sister Sophie, 3, performs a little body English as she bowls on the Wii Sports game using the Wii gaming device on the HD Plasma TV.

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Vudu Box: Digital movie downloader for HDTVs.

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Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

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Olympus Stylus FE-280 8MP digital camera with Dual Image.

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XBox 360 Guitar Hero III

For some people the right gift can only be measured in picture quality, surround-sound capability and satellite signal strength.

Electronics companies are no different from other businesses that roll out new products this time of year.

But the makers of the high-definition televisions and DVD players, video gaming systems, and digital cameras know their audience well. They know gadget fiends will pay almost any price, wait in lines and risk ostracism just to get their hands on the next great thing that will sooner or later become the old lame thing.

So instead of relying on a spokesperson, product tester or reviewer, we decided to go straight to the source to find out what new video games, GPS devices and home media systems are on the top of gadget fiends' lists.

Gaming Groupie

One of the traditional knocks on video games has been that they don't keep the body active. Some would argue that they contribute to isolation and antisocial behavior.

Rich Brooks thinks the newest generation of gaming consoles and titles is changing all of that.

Brooks, owner of Flyte New Media in Portland, is not ashamed to say he's a fan of video games.

For Hanukkah he received a subscription to Xbox Live, the online multiplayer gaming and entertainment service for Xbox users.

Using the service, Brooks can play with and against other people online in a number of Xbox 360 games, or as he puts it, getting his butt kicked by 13-year-olds.

If there is such a thing as a console war, Brooks is not dedicated to one side -- he owns an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii.

Though he likes the type of games the video game industry has been pushing out in recent years, he's also a fan of the recent trend of simulator games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Brooks said he's interested in the newly released "Super Mario Galaxy," which puts players back in the familiar shoes of Nintendo's marquee character in a new and different gaming style.

"I like games that are more 'joystick driven,'" he said. "But with the Wii it's so much more visceral."

It would not be unusual to see him playing Wii bowling with his daughters.

It would also not be uncommon to see him playing Guitar Hero with his wife, Cybele. The game, now in its third installment, allows players to make a career learning how to play the music of the greats. They've been spending "date night" in and trying to ace songs like the Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock," and "The Seeker" by the Who.

"She's so much better than me, too," he said.

GPS Guru

Brian Danz doesn't plan on getting lost much. Danz loves spending time outdoors biking and taking nature hikes. What Danz also enjoys is using electronics specifically designed to be used in nature.

For years Danz has been into using global positioning system devices to navigate on hikes and bike rides. Now a GPS training specialist with DeLorme in Yarmouth, he gets to combine his love for being outdoors with his interest in technology.

GPS receivers have become more common in recent years as more companies have gotten into the business and manufacturing has become cheaper, Danz said.

Now devices can be used in cars to get curb-to-curb direction, as well as on water or just on foot.

Using a network of satellites, GPS receivers are able to pinpoint a person's location anywhere on earth.

Danz admits he is a little biased, but he thinks DeLorme's new Earthmate GPS device is one of the best on the market. In terms of GPS receivers for cars, Danz said Garmin's nuvi series has proven to be reliable.

When considering a GPS device, Danz said reliable maps are only second to signal retention from satellites in importance.

Whether you're a hunter, biker, snowshoer, or just need help with directions, it's important to find what model fits your needs, he...