Good Guys Unveils Top 10 Holiday Electronics Gifts; Advances in Technology and Lower Prices Across the Industry Make for Great Deals on In-Demand Products This Season

Business Wire, Dec 3, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers/Retail Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2003

With the holidays just around the corner, Good Guys (Nasdaq:GGUY), one of the largest specialty retailers of higher-end consumer electronics products in the nation, today offered shoppers an inside look at the hottest, must-have consumer electronics gifts for the 2003 holiday season.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, nearly three-quarters of all US households say they are likely to purchase at least one consumer electronics product as a gift this holiday season, with 71% of consumers expecting to visit electronics retailers as they search for the perfect gift.

"Consumer electronics make great holiday gifts because you can use and enjoy these products year round, whether you're giving a personal gift or something for the entire to enjoy together," said Cathy A. Stauffer, executive vice president, Good Guys. "Early shopping trends point to a strong demand for digital products again this year, and Good Guys anticipates digital video recorders like TiVo, flat screen TVs, MP3 players, digital cameras and wireless camera phones will be some of the most popular gifts this season."

Based on expert knowledge of consumer trends and demand for electronics, Good Guys' product specialists recommend the following gifts for the holiday season:

   1.   Flat panel TVs - These ultra-thin, high-resolution TVs are
        rapidly replacing traditional TVs as picture quality improves
        and prices drop across the industry. With up to 16 million
        colors, ultra-wide 160-degree viewing angles and profiles as
        slim as 4 inches, plasma TV looks and performs like no other
        TV can! The Fujitsu 50" Plasmavision SlimScreen HD Monitor
        takes plasma to a new level of realism and detail. The Philips
        42" Plasma HD Monitor is only 3.6 inches deep and perfect for
        wall mounting. Flat panel TVs are offered in a large range of
        screen sizes - from 10 inches to more than 60 inches - and are
        now available at a great values.

   2.   MP3 Players - These portable audio/video jukeboxes enable
        consumers to carry thousands of songs in a device small enough
        to fit in a pocket. These compact and portable devices are
        literally changing the way consumers manage their music. The
        Apple iPod 10GB MP3 Player downloads an entire CD of music in
        15 seconds - and is available in Mac or Windows-compatible
        versions. The Rio Sport 128MB MP3 Player with FM Tuner &
        Stopwatch is ideal for the athlete, and carries up to three
        albums' worth of music to keep the tunes coming, no matter how
        long you play!

   3.   Digital cameras - Capture the memories of the holiday season -
        and send them to nearly anyone virtually - with a digital
        camera. Digital cameras are improving in picture quality
        (pixels), while shrinking in actual size - the Pentax Optio
        S44 MegaPixel Digital Camera is small enough to fit in the
        palm of your hand! The Sony Cyber-Shot 5 MegaPixel Digital
        Camera combines portability and performance in a compact model
        with incredibly clear photo quality.

   4.   Direct printing solutions - New printing technology allows for
        camera-to-printer prints without a PC! The Kodak Easy Share
        Printer Dock attaches to the camera and prints quality photos
        with the touch of a button. Canon's Color Photo Printer with
        Built-In 2" LCD Preview Screen makes previewing, editing and
        selecting photos to print simpler than ever. And, the Canon
        Compact 4"x6" Color Photo Printer's battery pack allows
        consumers to take the printer anywhere and instantly share
        fun, high-resolution pictures with friends and family during
        the holidays and beyond!

   5.   Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) - It's no secret that these
        products have changed the way consumers watch TV. Favorite
        shows can be digitally recorded and viewed anytime - or even
        played back without commercials - without tapes or timers.
        Consumers can pause a live show (or repeat a play in the big
        game to question a referee's call), then resume watching with
        the touch of a button. Good Guys offers a wide range of DVRs,
        including the TiVo Series2 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder,
        which digitally records up to 40 hours of your favorite
        programming.

   6.   Recordable DVD Players - These full-featured DVD players allow
        consumers to record their favorite programs and transfer home
        movies recorded with a digital camcorder to DVD. The Sony DVD
        Recorder with Progressive Scan Playback has a simple graphical
        interface which makes it easy to record TV in exceptional
        digital quality. The Panasonic DVD Recorder with Progressive
        Scan Playback can hold up to 12 hours of video, and its Time
        Slip technology allows consumers to play and record
        simultaneously on the same disc.

   7.   Wireless Camera Phones - These days, a phone is so much more
        than just a functional device for placing calls. Camera phones
        enable consumers to take a picture anytime and share with
        friends and family instantly - a great idea for faraway loved
        ones who can't be together for the holidays! A number of
        manufacturers and services offer camera phones with diverse
        features. For example, Sprint's PCS Vision Picture Phone VGA
        1000 by Samsung offers a high-resolution camera with built in
        flash, camera picture "fun frames" and external picture caller
        ID.

   8.   Digital Camcorders - What better way to capture holiday
        memories than with a digital camcorder? Preserve special
        moments year-round and create your own movies to show on the
        big screen. Many digital camcorders now create brilliant still
        photos in the same high resolution as digital still cameras,
        like Sony's 3 MegaPixel MiniDV Digital Camcorder. Sharp's
        Compact Digital Viewcam offers a comfortable grip and compact
        design, making it a perfect holiday travel companion.

   9.   Portable DVD Players - The perfect gift idea for the movie
        buff on the go, these compact travel companions offer great
        surround sound and built-in speakers. The Toshiba Slim
        Portable DVD Player with Progressive Scan and DVD-Audio
        Playback lets you take your movie experience wherever you go,
        with its slim design and 8.9 inch LCD display. Sony's Compact
        7" Portable DVD/CD Player combines movies and music in the
        size of a small notebook for easy viewing and listening from
        anywhere!

   10.  Distributed Audio Systems - Access your music collection
        wirelessly from anywhere in your home. Yamaha's MusicCAST
        sends digital music to up to 5 wireless and 2 wired points,
        delivering music wherever you go. A central server with a
        built-in hard drive stores up to 1000 CDs, which can be
        accessed and played via remote points you can put in any room.