Geek Girl Report: Santa’s Going High-Tech! Previewing the Hottest Electronic Gifts For Christmas 2012

It's that time of year again. Halloween's come and gone, and stores everywhere are already throwing Christmas in your face. And if you're looking for something a little more high-tech to stuff your stockings with, look no further. I've got you covered with gift ideas for everything from tablets to video games. Here are my recommendations for which of the hottest gadgets you should put under your tree this year.

Tablets

This year, it's all about tablet computers. Obviously, the big name in tablets would be the Apple iPad, either the iPad 3 released earlier this year or the mini iPad that released just recently. But if Apple is a little out of your price range, I'd recommend checking out Amazon's Kindle Fire. It has an absolutely gorgeous HD display, and it's super-quick Wi-Fi speed makes downloading content a breeze. It's a great combination of both price and performance. Other tablets worth taking a look at this season include the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Motorola Xoom.

E-Readers

For those who don't want all the bells and whistles of a tablet, an E-reader might be the way to go. And my recommendation for E-readers goes to the Amazon Kindle. Amazon just released their new Paperwhite E-Reader, which comes with free 3G wireless built-in, letting you download and read books form virtually anywhere, without having to hunt for a wi-fi hotspot.. Barnes and Nobles's Nook E-reader is also a good choice, though it doesn't quite have the versatility of the Kindle.

Smartphones

Looking to upgrade your phone? Smartphone always make a fantastic gift for the holidays. Again, the Apple iPhone 5 is going to be your most popular pick. But if Apple isn't your style, I recommend you check out the Samsung Galaxy S3. It's sleek and super-slim with a beautiful AMOLED display and offers some really cool features that not even the iPhone has, like the S-Beam that allow you to transfer content between phones just by touching them together.

Video Games

If you're in the market for a new gaming console, the XBox 360 is my top recommendation. It has a wide variety of games for all age groups, and with the addition of the Kinect motion camera and services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and ESPN, it's not just a game system, but a full-blown entertainment hub. Also, Nintendo's new Wii U gaming console is set to launch this month, and with it's unique controls that combines traditional gameplay with a touch screen, it's sure to be a hot seller this year. As far as actual games, the big-name titles this holiday season include Assassin's Creed 3, Resident Evil 6, and Borderlands 2.

Laptops

Laptops make great gifts for either the college-bound student or the business professional. But even with so many to choose from, it all comes down to one question: Mac or PC? If you're opting for the Mac you cant' go wrong with the MacBook Pro or its' light-weight, but just as powerful sibling the MacBook Air. If you go the PC route, you've got quite a few more options. My recommendation goes to the Dell Inspiron laptop with the 3rd-Gen Intel Core processor. For the more price-conscious shopper, the Samsung Chromebook is another fine option.