According to results from this year's Best Buy Holiday Trend Index, 67 percent of those surveyed plan to purchase consumer electronics products as gifts this holiday season. The key factors gift givers are seeking in these products are personalization, mobility and the ability to connect with other products as well as with friends and family. Only 10 percent of respondents say they found the perfect gift for everyone on their list last year. That's why Best Buy's team of customer specialists have made it easy to match the right products with anyone on a gift list.

"As consumer electronics become more diverse, portable and personal, customers have the opportunity to match the gift they give to the lifestyle of the receiver," said Mike Linton, executive vice president, consumer and brand marketing, and chief marketing officer for Best Buy. "We try to give our customers the latest and greatest technology and entertainment along with the in-store expertise to make selecting the perfect gift as easy as possible."

Consumer electronics products have evolved from being cold, impersonal devices with a single use, in a single color, at a single price to multifunctional devices available in a rainbow of colors handling multiple activities in a personal way. Front and center this holiday season are digital entertainment, home theater and wireless communication products and accessories that allow users to customize viewing and listening, share favorite memories and make bold personality statements through color and design.

It's a Personal Thing

For the digital downloaders and music lovers this season, Best Buy recommends the Nike+Philips PSA220 or PSA250 MP3 Player that features a 10-channel preset digital FM radio and PC software with music loader to manage and transfer music easily. Include a Napster pre-paid card to let the recipient choose tracks to download from among the hundreds of thousands of songs on the Napster service. If you can't take a loved one to see Elton John perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Best Buy offers the next best thing with Elton John Dream Ticket. This exclusive four-disc DVD collection is packed with video highlights of his performances over the past 40 years, interviews and never-before seen footage. And for those always looking to put their personal stamp on entertaining, the Leadsinger All-In-The-Mic Handheld Karaoke System is the perfect gift. No more hauling around bulky machines and CDs - just plug this microphone into the TV, select a tune and the lyrics pop up on the screen.

You Can Take It with You

The Index also reveals that 60 percent of those surveyed would like to receive gifts that simplify their daily lives. As professional and personal schedules become more hectic and intertwined, the need for all-in-one communication devices is essential.

For the on-the-go mom or the on-the-road professional, the Motorola MPX220 mobile phone provides constant and global access to email, instant messaging and the Web via Windows Mobile(TM) software. For capturing and sharing the instant moments in life, the MPX220 also offers an integrated 1.2 megapixel camera with flash and advanced multi-media messaging service. Looking for something just as cool, but with no contract? Best Buy offers Virgin Mobile's Kyocera Slider Pay-As-You-Go Wireless Phone, a stylish and easy-to-use phone with a keypad that slides forward, exposing the navigation buttons and leaving the screen exposed, but protecting the keypad.

Best Buy anticipates selling more than 600 wireless phones per minute during the holidays and offers consumers in-store access to the three largest wireless phone carriers.

For young, early technology adapters, simplicity may take the form of being able to play the season's most anticipated new games on the coolest systems available. Play Station 2's Madden NFL 2005 and Xbox's Halo 2 are sure to be on everyone's wish list. The Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Surf Blue and Nintendo DS, a new portable system with dual screens, round out the gaming experience.

Make the Connection

More than 60 percent of female respondents indicate they would like to receive gifts that allow them to create, manipulate and share digital images. Best Buy expects to sell more than one million digital cameras in November and December. Tops on Best Buy's "best bet" list is the Canon A400 3.2 MegaPixel Digital Camera. In one simple package this camera offers a digital photo printer so memories can be easily captured and quickly shared with friends and loved ones.

For students, grandparents and professionals alike, the Lexmark P315 portable printer plugs in via USB and prints up to 4800 dpi images anywhere - with or without a PC. Additionally, the P315 features a built-in memory card and a 2.5" color screen for previewing images. Best of all, users can print photos directly from digital cameras in less than 45 seconds.

The Gift of Plastic

Why do so many consumers purchase gift cards from consumer electronics retailers? Nearly 75 percent of respondents to the Best Buy Holiday Trend Index say it is because they are unsure of what the recipient wants. Popular as stocking stuffers for the perennially tough-to-buy-for teen or even as last-minute gifts for the mail carrier, Best Buy Gift Cards come in a variety of fun designer styles, have no expiration or maintenance fees and are available in any denomination. New this holiday season for the technology-challenged, GIVE THE GIFT OF A GEEK(TM) or a Geek Squad Gift Card." This Geek Squad is a 24-hour computer support task force(R) that has been rescuing wayward computer users for more than a decade. These gift cards can be redeemed for service in-store or to have a Geek Squad agent come to their home or office.

For more information on 2004's hottest technology and entertainment products and trends, Best Buy's team of customer specialists are available for interviews throughout the season. You can also access information at Best Buy's online pressroom at www.bestbuynewscenter.com.

About the Best Buy Holiday Trend Index

Best Buy commissioned a study to determine Americans' views about holiday gift-giving. The survey, conducted by Click IQ, polled a representative sample of 1,595 people ages 15 to 55, and has a margin of error of +/- 2 percent. The Trend Index also includes internal Best Buy insights, based on further consumer research.