Here's what we really wanted to see under the Midwest Test Facility Christmas tree.

It's that time of year again where, with a cynical wink and a nod, every sales person, huckster, carnival barker, voice-over announcer and charlatan is telling you to get ready for "The Holidays" by buying his or her particular item. I have an idea: Let's just lose this disingenuous "Holidays" misnomer. What they're really talking about is Christmas. That's right, there is a Christmas, even though you'd never know it by the deluge of advertising raining down upon us. So now that we have that straight, as we noted last year around this time, a particular red-and-white clad Web surfer has been spotted around these parts by our highly sophisticated tracking software. That's right, Santa Claus himself is a regular wanderer around this Web site. So, I wanted to make sure he knew what we'd really like to have seen under Digital Media Net's Midwest Test Facility Christmas tree. Note that we didn't get any of this stuff -- I guess we were pretty naughty this year, so that figures.

First, we'd like to have had a new version 2.0 RT2000 editing system from Matrox. And not the one for Windows 98/Me, either. I'm talking about the one that's almost ready, the one that runs on Windows 2000. I just had a chance to play with one last week at the Matrox headquarters in Montreal, and believe me, it's sweet! Nice real-time integration with Premiere 5.1, butta-smooth 3D effects, and that price! How low can you go? For most of us high-end editors, we'd still prefer uncompressed video and lots more high-end features, but for proofing concepts and generally goofing around with real time video effects and filters, you just can't beat this under-$1000 jewel of a system. Here's my latest review.

Next, we asked for a trinket that on the surface has nothing whatsoever to do with digital video editing, but if you think about it, could come in handy in a pinch. It's the Canon PowerShot S100, otherwise known as the Digital Elph camera. How many times have you been compositing some magnificent collage of flying cutouts, when suddenly you needed a picture of something, say, a fire hydrant? You searched stock footage sites on the Web, rummaged through all your stills, to no avail. How nice to be able to just pocket your tiny Digital Elph, run outside for exactly two minutes, and grab a quick shot of that fire hydrant at the end of your driveway! After that, plug that little camera into your USB port and boom! Instant digital image, at 1600x1200 resolution. Slap it on your timeline and you're good to go. I've heard of lots of editors doing just that with this tiny electronic marvel. Here's more from Canon.

Was it too much to ask for a new monitor? But not just any monitor. I'm talking about one that can show me an entire timeline for an hour show, all on one screen. This wide-screen monster is made by a company called Panora, and hey, it's a bargain at only $10,000. It's OK, that's the reduced price! The PV230 DSK is actually three flat-panel displays stylishly lashed together to make the widest direct-view screen I've ever seen. The dang thing has a screen that's 36 inches wide and nine inches tall, so you can really stretch out that timeline big-time. And if that's not big enough, let's try out its bigger brother, the PV290. Its screen spans 42.5 inches, for that super wrap-around effect. Whoops. It costs $22,750. Maybe save that one for next Christmas. Take a look at the full story here.

Next, I humbly requested a turnkey Avid (Softimage) |DS high definition editing system. It's so easy to use, the quality is so perfect, and I really want to get into some wide screen editing. And, I like the way DS lets you hold the footage in one area and bring the tools to it, rather than importing and exporting everything all over creation. New for the just-released version 4 is the new Effects Tree, a procedural method of compositing images that makes complicated layering more manageable. With the addition of high definition capability, one of the best just got better. DS is a fine editor and compositor that's hard to beat! To get a feel for what's it like to drive this beast, take a look at this DS tutorial I wrote about an earlier version of the software.

And while we're talking HD, looks like you also forgot to bring one of those CinéWave systems from Pinnacle. Wow! When the company's press releases say "infinite layering, awesome effects, advanced nonlinear editing, the fastest and most accurate motion tracker, and paint and compositing tools that will blow your mind," they ain't kidding. Make sure it's the model that's upgraded to HD. And while you're at it, include one of those 22-inch Apple Cinema flat panel displays, one of the most beautiful objects upon which I have ever laid mine eyes. I know, I know, I asked for that super-wide monitor earlier, but this one would be specifically for the Pinnacle system. Here's the latest about CinéWave.

And my last item on the list had nothing to do with editing, but it does use digital video: Tivo. Five years ago, we would have all been astounded if someone told us that five years in the future, consumers would be able to buy a $300 device that records hours of video on a hard disk while they're watching another recording playing back from that same disk. And it's all playing with video quality that's approaching excellent! This device will change the way you watch television, putting complete control into your hands and making sure that you'll never have to watch another commercial for the rest of your life. Sure, I've looked at the video from these boxes, close-up, and it's not perfect. There are a few artifacts, a dropped frame here and there and too many luminance shifts, but overall, these boxes are a super achievement that's bringing digital video into millions of homes around the world. If you do decide to bring one, Santa, make it the Sony unit -- identical to the Philips model except for one great thing: It can dump video to tape with one button push, if you have a Sony VCR. And don't be fooled by that 30 hour capacity they quote. The quality below the top two levels is unwatchable, so plan on about 14.5 hours of decent-looking video at the second-best setting. Find out more at the official Tivo Web site.

And one last thing: Since I really want to be hyper-inclusive at this happy, happy time of year, please allow me to wish you, one and all, Happy Holidays! I mean, Merry Christmas/Hannukah/Winter Solstice/Kwanzaa/Happy New Year/whatever.

Charlie White has been writing about new media and digital video since it was the laughingstock of the television industry. A technology journalist and columnist for the past seven years, White is also an Emmy-winning producer, video editor and shot-calling PBS TV director. Talk back -- Send Chazz a note at cwhite@digitalmedianet.com.