iPods and iMacs make great holiday gifts, but if you want to make sure you get them by the 25th, here are Apple‘s holiday shipping deadlines:

• Standard iPod Models: 12/16 or 12/18
• Laser-engraved iPod Models: 12/16
• Standard Mac Models: 12/18
• Custom Configuration Mac Models: 12/15 or 12/16

Also, take advantage of free shipping on items off of Apple’s Holiday Gift Guide and free shipping on purchases over $50.

Links:  

• Free shipping on products from the Apple Store’s Holiday Gift Guide
• Free Shipping on Purchases over $50 at the Apple Store

Pundits may over-analyze this election week, but here is what we know:

• Elections are very serious, unless you’re enjoying election movies
• Politicians may talk about 1,000 points of light, but you can’t see them without a telescope (for 10% off)
• Voting may be free, but it can’t beat 97 cent shipping on top holiday toys
• We can make government a bit lighter if we bought each Member of Congress a limited edition aluminum chair
• It’s not a coincidence that we get a new iPod shuffle and a political shuffle in the same week.

The new sleek aluminum iPod Shuffle is now available at Apple for $79. Weighing only half an ounce and measuring 1.62″ x 1.07″ x 0.41″ (half the size of the original Shuffle), the new iPod Shuffle comes with a built-in clip and supports 12 hours of battery life while holding 240 songs. Each iPod Shuffle comes with earphones and a USB Dock and works with iTunes 7.02 or later.

Link:  Now shipping — Apple’s new iPod shuffle ($79)

Apple has just released an 8GB (PRODUCT) RED iPod nano for $249. This is Apple’s second (PRODUCT) RED release after debuting a 4GB version when the campaign launched.

As we previously mentioned, the (PRODUCT) RED campaign is working with major retailers to offer limited edition products, either in red or with the (PRODUCT) RED branding, with part of the proceeds going towards The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. In this case, Apple will donate $10 from the sale price.

Link:  8GB (PRODUCT) RED iPod nano at the Apple store ($249)

Apple has finally updated its MacBook Pro to the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor which, according to apple, are up to 39% faster than its predecessor. The processor has been out for some time but for some reason Apple waited until today to quietly release the new hardware. The new MacBook Pros are available in three configurations:

• 15-inch MacBook Pro with 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor – $1,999
  ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
  1GB expandbale up to 3GB
  120GB hard drive (optional 160GB or 200GB)
  2 USB 2.0 ports
  6x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  1 FireWire 400, 1 FireWire 800, and DVI ports
  AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, Ethernet
  iSight
• 15-inch MacBook Pro with 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor – $2,499
  ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
  2GB expandbale up to 3GB
  120GB hard drive (optional 160GB or 200GB)
  2 USB 2.0 ports
  6x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  1 FireWire 400, 1 FireWire 800, and DVI ports
  AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, Ethernet
  iSight
• 17-inch MacBook Pro with 2.33 Intel Core 2 Duo processor – $2,799
  ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
  2GB expandbale up to 3GB
  160GB (otional 100GB or 200GB)
  3 USB 2.0 ports
  8x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  1 FireWire 400, 1 FireWire 800, and DVI ports
  AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, Ethernet
  iSight

Link:  New Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

So what did we learn this week?

• You haven’t terminated your Sprint contract yet? Get discounts on a new phone.
• It’s one of the world’s smallest Bluetooth headsets and you can buy it for dirt cheap ($30).
• Save energy and charge your cellphone with a solar powered backpack from Tumi.
• Help Bono save the world by buying red RED products with proceeds going to fight AIDS in Africa.

Led by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (PRODUCT) RED is working with major retailers to offer limited edition products, either in red or with the (PRODUCT) RED branding, with part of the proceeds going towards The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. So far, Apple has received the early attention with the release of the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition for $199. Like the other 4GB nanos the PRODUCT (RED) iPod holds up to 1,000 songs, has 24 hours of battery life, and can be engraved. $10 from the sale price will go towards The Global Fund.

Gap has also joined the project by selling 24 (PRODUCT) RED specific t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, belts, jeans, and totes. The products are manufactured in Lesotho where Gap has invested in factories and clinics to help support an African country where nearly 1/3 of the population (600,000) is HIV-positive.

The current (PRODUCT) RED partners are:

• Apple – Red 4GB iPod nano
• Gap – RED clothing and accessories
• Motorola – Red MOTORAZR (US) and MOTOSLVR (UK) mobile phones
• Converse – Customized (PRODUCT) RED versions of its famous Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker
• Armani Emporium – (PRODUCT) RED clothing and accessories
• American Express – Custom red credit card with 1% of spend going to The Global Fund

Apple is now selling refurbished Intel Core Duo MacBooks and MacBook Pros at discounted prices ranging from 14% to 25% off with free shipping. As we previously discussed Apple Certified Refurbished products are pre-owned products that undergo a stringent refurbishment process and are then certified by Apple and covered by Apple’s one-year limited warranty. As these products are each individually refurbished and certified, supplies are limited.

Here is the list of available products:

• Refurbished 17-inch MacBook Pro – $2,399 (15% off)
  2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB SDRAM, 120GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256MB GDDR3), Glossy Display
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $2,149 (24% off)
  2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB SDRAM, 100GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256MB GDDR3)
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $2,149 (15% off)
  2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB SDRAM, 100GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256MB GDDR3)
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $2,149 (15% off)
  2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB SDRAM, 100GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256MB GDDR3), Glossy Display
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $1,949 (23% off)
  2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB SDRAM, 100GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256MB GDDR3)
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $1,699 (16% off)
  2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB SDRAM, 80GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128MB GDDR3), Glossy Display
• Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro – $1,699 (16% off)
  2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB SDRAM, 80GB, SuperDrive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128MB GDDR3)
• Refurbished 14-inch MacBook Black – $1,299 (14% off)
  2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB, 80GB, SuperDrive
• Refurbished 14-inch MacBook White – $1,099 (16% off)
  2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB, 60GB, SuperDrive
• Refurbished 14-inch MacBook White – $949 (14% off)
  1.83GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB, 60GB, Combo drive

Link: Refurbished MacBooks and MacBook Pros at Apple

Here’s what we learned on Shopperism this week:

• TMX Elmo is the new must have holiday gift and you can’t find it anywhere… except eBay
• Refurbished iPods are cheap ($99 to $220).
• The Sony Ericsson P990 may be the best phone ever. You can find out since it’s now on Amazon.
• How do you control 15 devices with one remote? You buy the Logitech Harmony 550 from Dell using coupon code X$NBJ52RR6HH36.
• If you are cool and old school you buy Adidas Originals
• Nothing beats fine British clothing except fine British clothing at up to 80% off.