Get the right goodies for your gizmos

It is about time for me to offer everyone with electronics under the tree this year my tips to keep them alive.

Lots of us will have high-def TVs under the tree, which will make TV viewing pretty cool in the winter months. However virtually none of these will ship with the right cables to hook them up. You want an HDMI cable to connect your TV to your high-def television source in most cases. I can't speak for every connection but if your source (cable box, etc.) has HDMI then it makes sense to use that connection. HDMI carries both video and sound so it is a great way to hook up a TV.

Retailers are killing consumers on the prices of these; I have seen the best prices at the wholesale clubs (Sam's and Costco) and online. A good price for a decent 6 foot cable is about $16 but even then it is overpriced. Some online are $2 or so but I would use them for lesser components and not my HDTV.

Next, get a surge strip. Note this is not a power strip, but rather a surge catcher that sits between your electronics and the power company. When a power surge comes down the line the strip grabs it and commits suicide, saving your stuff. The strip is dead but you're out the cost of the strip ($25) and not the TV or whatever. If the strip does not catch the surge and your TV is ruined (and you keep the packaging and receipt) the surge maker will replace the TV and everything else plugged into it. A regular power strip (less than $10) does nothing.

If you got a gaming console this year under the tree, make sure you get the best cable your TV can support. (It is not in the box.) And consider how many you have free. For example, many TVs come with two HDMI ports so you may be tempted to get an HDMI cable for your Playstation 3. Instead, I would use the HDMIs for cable input and for DVD input and use composite or S-video for the PS3. That's just me... all I am saying is look at your TV and look at what you plan to plug into it and do some planning. All of the consoles come with the crummy standard cables which use the lowest quality video input.

If you got a Wii or other console make sure you get the extra controllers you're going to want or Christmas morning will be a "one at a time" sort of day for you.

If you got an Ipod or other MP3 device, resist the urge to install Limewire or other music-stealing software. One, it is stealing, two it will fill your computer with viruses and junk and three most of the files on there are fake music files now. Just get the CDs and import to your device (and back up your music!).

WEEKLY WEB WONDER: Xerox and some other companies are sending free greeting cards to American troops overseas. It is a fantastic program that lets you say thank you. Go to www.letssaythanks.com.

James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm and tech columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim(at)cyberdads.com.