Brown and a few gazillion other electronic game enthusiasts are hoping to score the game system, which will be released Nov. 22 at a cost of $299 or $399, depending on the options.

Rumors about the availability of the Xbox 360 are zapping around the Internet, and the news doesn't look good. Demand is expected to far outstrip supply in the weeks before Christmas.

Shawn McCoy, manager of the EB Games at EastChase, said, "Obviously, the Xbox 360 is the hot item of the Christmas season. Every vendor is completely sold out of this product. We do take preorders but if the consumers haven't reserved one already, Christmas will come and go before they get one."

Many Montgomery-area retailers said they haven't decided how they will dole out the game systems as they arrive, but dedicated gamers say they're prepared to wait in long lines if necessary.

For people who aren't on a waiting list, aren't interested in waiting in lines or aren't likely to spend hundreds of dollars on one gift, the holiday shopping sea son is geared toward less expensive electronics as well as clothing and new editions of classic books.

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday wish lists for 2005 include books, CDs, DVDs, apparel, gift cards, consumer electronics, jewelry and home décor.

Those are national figures. In the Montgomery area, prized gifts also are likely to reveal a love for college football. There are plenty of jerseys, posters, mugs and related paraphernalia. University of Alabama fans may appreciate "What It Means To Be Crimson Tide" by Gene Stallings. Dreamers may have their hearts set on Rose Bowl tickets.

Steve Cagle, store manager at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, said, "Gift cards seem to be selling at a quicker pace than they were last year at this time. Games seem to be a really hot item this year, especially trivia games and those Scene It? DVD games."

Interest in the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has sparked enthusiasm for the C.S. Lewis books, with special editions and bookmarks selling well.

An unexpected hit is "The Elements of Style Illustrated." The classic writing manual by William Strunk and E.B. White has been illustrated by Maira Kalman.

"Star Wars" items are doing well this season, with the release of the "Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith" DVD and toys such as the "Stars Wars" Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet and the Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater and Spud Trooper.

Anna Tadlock, marketing director for Eastdale Mall, offered some hints for people buying gifts for fashion-minded women: "Look for more embellishments, more layers, more fun. Find faux fur, sequins, beading, and jewels on everything from tops to jeans to handbags."

Electronics are holding the interest of many shoppers, with new-generation music players, cell phones, notebooks and items such as Sony's credit-card-sized digital cameras.

Leroy Tunley, general manager at Best Buy, said, "The hot items are going to be the Xbox 360 and computer laptops. The iPod nano is going to be huge."

Danielle Smiley, executive team leader at Target, said the hot sellers will be "a lot of electronic items and video games and, of course, toys."

EB Games' McCoy said, "Gift certificates are the biggest saving grace I've seen for grandparents who feel overwhelmed when they walk into the store."

This is cache, read story here