Bose’s noise canceling headphones have long been a favorite of travelers and audiophiles. Now in its third generation, the Bose QuietComfort 3 features a smaller and slimmer design. The QC3 earcups rest comfortable on the ear instead of surrounding it and include a soft memory foam to cushion against the ear. It also features a rechargeable lithium-ion batter that lasts for 20 hours on a full charge and is foldable for storage and travel. In the box you’ll find an AC battery recharger, a dual-plug adapter, a 5′ extension cord, and a travel case.

If you purchase the Bose QuietComfort 3 prior to 1/31/07, you will receive a free Lexar MP3 player. The Hammacher Schlemmer deal comes with a 1 GB player while the Amazon deal features a 256 MB player.

Bose QuietComfort 3 and Free MP3 player:
Hammacher Schlemmer: $349.95 | Amazon: $349.00

It was our first Thanksgiving together and if you’re like us and you chose to shop online (rather than get trampled at 5AM in front of your favorite big box store) then you learned that:

• Just in time for the holidays, Google Checkout coupons are back
• The best TiVo is a free free TiVo
• Why buy the same old gifts when you can but something really unique?
• You will need a bigger bag to carry all those gifts back home
• The only thing that can bring down Amazon.com is a $100 Xbox

As holiday shopping season rolls around, we’re on the lookout for unique gifts and stores so you could buy something that’s just a little bit different. One such store is Hammacher Schlemmer, which has been selling unique and innovative high quality products for over 150 years. Their diverse product catalog allows you to buy one of a kind gifts for under $30, a 7-foot robot for a mere $50,000 and even a $108,000 electric car. Where else can you buy a portable 26 foot ice rink for your backyard?

We encourage you to visit their website or consider some of these unique products:

	Next-Generation Robosapien Robot This is the next evolution of the Robosapien, capable of autonomous behavior and equipped with interactive sensors to recognize objects and respond to sounds. It can be programmed to execute more than 60 different movements, including dancing, exploring, lifting items, or bowling (ball and pins included).

	Space-Saving Air-Powered Hockey Table This is the air-powered hockey table with a space-saving design that easily folds out of the way against a wall when floor space is needed for other activities.

	Portable 26 Foot Backyard Ice Rink Easy to assemble portable unit turns any backyard into an ice rink for parties, skating or hockey practice. No tools required.

	Tabletop Wooden Sudoku Game This elegant wooden sudoku set comes with pre-numbered tiles and more than 1,000 puzzles to challenge sudoku enthusiasts who prefer to work conundrums with tactile components rather than pencil and paper.

	Little Red Rocket Sleek battery-powered rocket is outfitted with working lights, push-button sounds, and a blast-off rumble. Easy assembly.

The Interactive Plush Pony. This plush pony is comparable in size to an actual Shetland and uses advanced electronics, integrated sensors, and puppetry to respond when it is touched, hears a sound, or detects changes in ambient light. When her mane is brushed she whinnies; when her ears are tickled she turns her head to see who is grooming her; petting her muzzle will cause her to sniff your hand.

	Genuine Turkish Bathrobe This imported Turkish robe comes from the Denizli region of Turkey. Turkish toweling is legendary for its extraordinary thickness and absorbency.

Robotic Reptile This is the robotic dinosaur that has multiple sensors which detect sound, movement, and touch, allowing it to react to its environment with realistic biomorphic motions including running, stalking, turning its head, whipping its tail, and “sniffing” its prey before pouncing. The dinosaur responds to stimuli depending on one of its three moods, including Hungry, Satisfied, and Subdued.

	6 1/2-Foot Santa’s Day And Night Illuminated Train Unlike typical holiday sculptures that can only reveal their brilliance at night, this 6 1/2′ long Santa’s train is decorated with present-laden tenders, steam billowing from the locomotive’s smokestack, garlands, and painted stars, all of which give the train a three-dimensional appearance, making it noticable during the day.

Like many Americans, we here at Shopperism will celebrate Labor Day on the roads exploring this great nation. As we suffer through $3+ fuel costs and sluggish SUVs, we will ponder this next product.

The 120 MPH Electric Car is available for purchase from Hammacher Schlemmer for a mere $108,000. This incredible vehicle is made of stainless steel, chrome, carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass to create 3,000 lb. strong body which can go from 0 to 6 mph in 4.0 seconds. The two electric motors produce over 1,000 lb. ft. of torque yet the car is no wider than a motorcycle. Driver and passenger sit in a front and back seats which are protected with four-point racing harnesses. With a low center of gravity (due to 1,100 lbs of batteries under the floor) the car has an excellent rol-over threshold. This car generates no emissions. To summarize, it’s fast, safe, cozy, clean, and doesn’t use petroleum. Why haven’t you bought one yet?

120 MPH Electric Car | Hammacher Schlemmer | $108,000