In the last couple of days, I’ve had three or four of my friends call me and ask if I knew anybody that was looking for a Microsoft XBOX 360 and they all were selling them cheaply. Just over a week, Microsoft banned 1 million XBOX Live Players [Article: CNN] and those machines cannot rejoin the XBOX Live network, which is necessary for updates and playing games online.

This is the stuff that lawyers have wet dreams about. So a week later indeed, there were announcements of an class action lawsuit on the way [Article: Lawyers & Settlements] and at the same time, eBay, Craigslist and other sale outlets [Article: CBC News] are being flooded with these banned XBOX 360′s that look just like any other one until you login to XBOX Live and find out your cheap $100 machine will never get any updates and play online. Sure, it will play games just fine though… but it’s a crippled machine. All because people wanted to be able to pirate games for the Microsoft XBOX 360.

There’s been talk about firmware fixes for those machines that were affected [Article: Tom's Guide] but the fix is a complex set of instructions that will have you probably switching religions and getting the cops called on you because you’ve thrown your HDTV, a trashcan and your Pokémon card collection out of different windows in a fit of rage because you cannot pwn the next dude in Gears of War 2.

So yeah… don’t buy that cheap XBOX. It might be banned.

I already own an OQO 01+. While I’ve used it sparingly – mainly when I didn’t need the full power of my laptop – it’s still a form factor that I tend to love because it fights right into my jacket pocket without a struggle and it still gives me full Windows usability; much unlike my Nokia N810.

Enter the ultra-portable OQO 02+ and the Sony Vaio P. Both have better than standard VGA resolution, for my uses, they support the most modern Adobe Flash Player version – sometimes I just need to show off something I’ve worked on – and they both run Microsoft Windows, not some mobile version of some OS.

The specs head-to-head:

OQO 02+
1.86GHz Intel® Atom™ Z540 or 1.33 GHz Intel Atom Z520
Windows Vista® Business, Windows XP Professional or XP Home
Up to shock-mounted 120GB HDD
Up to 2GB 533mhz DDR2 RAM
Backlit thumb keyboard
3.5 hours (standard 4500mAh battery)
5 inch OLED Screen @ 800×480 native resolution
HDMI output up to 1920×1200 resolution
Wifi 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 w/ EDR
Integrated Gobi 3G mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA)
Starts at $999 USD

Sony Vaio P
Intel Atom Processor (??)
Windows Vista®
Instant On Mode – Sony’s XMB (Cross Media Bar like in the PS3/PSP)
8 inch 1600 x 768 resolution LED-backlit XBRITE-ECO LCD
4 hours (standard battery)
802.11n WiFi with Bluetooth
3G WWAN mobile broadband
Integrated GPS module
Starts at $900 USD

I’ll be putting my barely used OQO 01+ on eBay very soon. Drool.

A pair of Nike Zoom Potro PrizeFlight Premiums. With these, you’ll be guaranteed a stylish separation from the crowd of Nike Air Force One and other sneaker head shoe mainstays. With a full-length Nike Air Zoom insole and a very form fitting and well-padded interior, these possibly could be the most comfortable casual sneakers in a long time. And as a limited edition sneaker, they’re somewhat hard to find…

But you’re in luck and all it takes is an eBay account and a little bit of patience since the only retailer on the internet – that I can find with inventory – is in Taiwan.

Just having received the shoes, it will take close to 7-9 business days, but will arrive just in time for Christmas for your sneaker addict. They look great with a crisp pair of dark denim jeans and cost about $89.99 USD and another $30.00 USD for shipping with eBay’s “Buy It Now” option. A perfect pair of sneakers to get noticed.

[ eBay - id4shoes ]

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Prior RTL* Last Second Shopper Gift Guide Options:

• #11 – Tank Theory Dungeons Belt Buckle
• #12 – Vaja Case iVolution Case for the Apple iPhone3G