Web Chat: Christmas shopping is a computer-friendly affair

'Tis the season to wrestle over the last toys, wait in endless lines and max out the credit cards - or so they say.

There is an easier way, and those with a little bit of Internet savvy can do all their shopping in one session on the home PC.

Does this take away from the spirit of mob shopping that has come to define the consumer Christmas? Maybe so, but I know for my time and peace of mind, I would rather get it done and go skiing.

Since last year's fiasco of failed deliveries and disorganized online payment methods, the leading companies have improved the way they do business. Nonetheless, shop early and entrust your money to the e-tailers who guarantee that your deliveries will arrive on time.

Despite the downturn in technology stocks over the last several months, e-commerce continues to see significant increases. Translation, there are more and more legitimate sites catering to shoppers, while the others are being weeded out. Here are a few:

-- Clothing/jewelry/accessories:

www.gap.com: The popular retail store, has an online wish list alerts your wants (or needs) to shopping relatives.

www.bananarepublic.com

www.bloomindales.com: Although it doesn't have the variety of the popular department store, it will satisfy.

www.macys.com

www.jcpenney.com

www.wristwatch.com: New and used watches in all price ranges and ages.

www.joseph-watches.com

www.fantasyjewels.com: Costume jewelry by the boatload and for a coupled hundred dollars, it's a break from the usual.

www.mall.com: Links to tons of online stores.

shopping.yahoo.com: The same thing.

www.gear.com

-- Electronics/gadgets:

www.outpost.com: Everything from handheld computers to DVD movies and video games.

www.buy.com

www.gamers.com: Everything for video game players from systems to games.

www.ebworld.com: The same thing.

www.sharperimage.com: The only store at the mall that guys cannot walk past.

www.gadgethome.com

www.cyberrebate.com

www.igo-1.com: The Reno company that supplies everything wireless.

-- Books/compact discs:

www.amazon.com: Amazon was the first to clue into the book market and they still have one of the best inventories. The site also has reviews and reader recommendations. Also shop for compact discs.

www.barnesandnoble.com: This online bookstore has an "out-of-print" section that's pretty impressive.

www.booksamillion.com

www.cdnow.com

www.moviemalls.com

-- Toys:

www.toysrus.com: Tired of trying to figure out what kids like? Toys R' Us will tell you.

www.houseoftoys.com

www.kbkids.com

www.gymboree.com

-- Food:

www.800microbrew.com: Beer of the month

www.gourmetguides.com

www.thespicehouse.com

www.tavolo.com

There is an abundance of sites out there that cater to every shopper's whim, however picky, new or used. Visit a search engine and look for a specific item.

Questions?Ideas? E-mail at jimscripps@Tahoe.com