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Black Friday countdown: Technology experts share gift picks for holiday seasonNov 22, 2009 (Daily Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, is traditionally considered one of the best days of the year to buy electronics. But it can be hard to spot a good deal if you're not immersed in the language of gadgets. We've gathered a team of experts who can help you muddle through the complex world of digital cameras, video cameras, TVs, computers and cell phones. Check out their recommendations for moms (or, more generally, people who value utility and high efficiency), kids and tech geeks. Take their advice, and you could knock out your holiday shopping in one day. Cameras Mom. Small and lightweight, the Canon PowerShot S90 is the top choice for point-and-shoot cameras, says Dennis Tennant, Daily Press photo editor. The 10 mega pixel camera takes good photos in low lighting and has an internal focusing system. ($430). Similar features are desired in a video camera. The Canon FS200 standard definition camera ($260) fits that bill, says Tennant. Watch out for the high definition cameras, your computer may not be able to handle the files. Kids. Affordability, durability and ease of use are the most important features in kids cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 ($155) will take a good photo with little more than an aim and click. The Flip UltraHD camcorder ($199) has no detachable parts to get lost and can be plugged into the computer with a simple USB cable. Tech geek. Serious photographers want ultimate control over their camera. The Canon 50D DSLR is a great deal for a photographer who can't afford the most expensive version, Tennant says. Interchangeable lenses bump the price from $945 to $1,469. Movie makers will want the Canon VIXIA HF200 HD camcorder ($750, look for the available $200 rebate). It includes all of the bells and whistles, like a built-in memory that lets you record for two hours. Extra tip. Consult cnet.com and dpreview.com for camera reviews. TVs Mom/Family. The top-of-the-line TV isn't worth the price for the average household, says Yung Trang, general manager of techbargains.com. If you're going with a 46-inch TV or larger, you'll want 1080p resolution. Sports enthusiasts should look for 120Hz refresh rates (for a smoother picture). Trang recommends the Sony Bravia LCD HDTV (about $1,100). Kids. On smaller TVs, 720p resolution is satisfactory. The Panasonic Viera 32-inch LCD HDTV with an iPod dock goes for about $600. TVs with 720p resolution are likely to be sold for deep discounts on Black Friday, technology personal shopper Terrance Whitehead says. Tech geek. To get the best image, you should go with a plasma TV or LED back-lit LCD TV, says Trang. The Samsung 46-inch LED back-lit LCD HDTV (1080p, 120Hz) sells for about $2,000. Extra tip. Blu-Ray players are expected to drop in price this holiday season. Verify that your audio and video receiver can support Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio, says Whitehead. Those are sound formats that accompany high-definition video. Computers Mom. A 21-inch iMac is the perfect fit for the mom who wants to sync her phone and camera with the computer, says Harold Mann, president of Mann Consulting. It includes a built-in camera and iChat feature. ($1,200). Kids. Netbooks are all the rage, and they're at a price point that parents can swallow. Bret Steele, a systems administrator for a Norfolk-based company, recommends Dell's Mini 10v for $269. Tech geeks. Gamers need high power and cool temperature. Look for a liquid-cooled desktop, at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, Intel Core i7 and at least a 1 gigabyte video card. The Alienware Aurora by Dell is much talked about among gamers. These computers sell for at least $1,300. Extra tip. Be careful when upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7. Save all of your files, install the new operating system, and reinstall your files. You can upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 without the risk of losing your files, says Steele. Cell phones Mom. The iPhone is king, say Sascha Segan, editor for mobile at PCMag.com Web site, and Sean Everett, co-founder of Evolyte, a phone application marketing firm. From photo storage to calendar applications and simple messaging features, this phone has what you need without the complications. Kids. The TicTalk is a great option for younger kids. You control everything online, and it comes with LeapFrog games. Older kids who text will want something like the LG EnV3 or the Sanyo SCP-2700, Segan says. Tech geeks. The Droid is the latest device, and it's the one that's prompting the most conversation. In addition to the higher quality camera, it allows you to have multiple applications open at once. The iPhone is still superior in the apps category, though, says Everett. Extra tip. It can be tricky to purchase a cell phone for someone outside of your plan. A gift card for the preferred carrier is the easiest way to go. Meet the experts Still need help with your Christmas shopping? Meet these technology experts during a live Internet chat on dailypress.com on Tuesday. They'll answer your specific gadget questions while the Daily Press Savvy Shopper and her team of bargain hunters comb ads and the Internet for the best prices. The chat lasts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so bring along your entire Christmas list! Black Friday countdown Today Experts' guide to holiday gadgets Monday Tag along with a shopping master Tuesday Hot tips to beat shopping stress Wednesday Where to get a bite after Black Friday blitz Thursday How to score the hot holiday decorations Friday It's here! Get up early and shop till you drop! To see more of the Daily Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailypress.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Daily Press, Newport News, Va. 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