Five Top Gifts for the Holidays

It’s that time of year again when you have to come up with the perfect gift. Here are five suggestions for gifts that are sure to please someone on your list. They range from the red-hot to timeless classics.

1. Apple® iPhone™—Now that all the hoopla is over, the initial bugs have been worked out, and the prices have dropped this is the perfect time to purchase an iPhone. Is it worth all the hype? That probably depends on your point of view. There are other phones that do individual things as well or better than the iPhone, but no other product, at least at this point, has incorporated all the capabilities of an iPod into a single phone. And no other product has quite the cachet, quite the cool as an iPhone. Not only is it functional, it is an elegant piece of technology. The major drawback is that you can only use the iPhone with an AT&T service plan. If that’s not a problem for the recipient of this gift, an 8GB iPhone goes for $399 from either the Apple or AT&T® Store. 
   
   
2. Cashmere—As a sign of timeless elegance and luxury few things beat cashmere, and it’s never been more popular (the Land's End catalog offers more than 160 cashmere items.) Cashmere is made from the undercoating of goats that live only in the high, dry plateaus around the Gobi Desert. It takes as much as four years for one goat to produce enough wool to make one sweater, which accounts for the steep prices of cashmere goods. The good news is that things made from cashmere come in a wide range of styles and prices. You can start with something as simple as a pair of socks that may cost $20 and work up to scarves, sweaters, jackets and overcoats that may cost thousands of dollars. The classic is a sweater, possibly a turtleneck for women and a v-neck for men. Look for at least two-ply yarn made of 100% cashmere with prices starting around $100. Keep in mind that if the price seems too low, it probably is.
   
   
3. iPod® and accessories—What can you say? Probably, no other electronic device has spread so rapidly or had such an affect on the industry with which it’s associated—the music business. And why not? The iPod offers a heretofore unknown degree of freedom to personalize your music collection and carry it with you in a compact, convenient and easy-to-use format. Last year’s top-of-the-line models, that play videos as well as playing music and storing photographs and feature a whopping 80GB hard drive, have dropped significantly in price. That 80GB hard drive lets you store up to 15,000 songs or 150 hours of video that can be viewed on a 2.5 inch color screen. These models now go for less than $250. For an extra $100 you can double the capacity with a 160MB hard drive. And don’t forget accessories. They range from cases for around $10 to docking speaker systems that can run up to $400 or more.
   
   
4. HD DVD Player—If you haven’t watched a movie on an HD DVD player, you don’t know what you’re missing. Both the picture and sound quality when played on a wide-screen HD TV is impressive. The big decision here is Blu-ray vs. HD DVD. Sony® is the leading proponent of one of Blu-Ray format—with the support of numerous manufacturers and movie studios. Toshiba® is the major proponent of HD DVD joined primarily by INTEL and Microsoft. Both sides have plenty of money and seem determined fight to the bitter end. Blu-ray seems to have a slight edge in features. A Blu-ray player can store more data, which means a Blu-ray disc can offer more features like multiple versions of a movie, comments, out-takes, etc. Also, you can watch Blu-ray discs on a Sony Play Station 3 (HD DVD is available as an add-on to Microsoft’s X-Box®. The big advantage of HD DVD is price. A Toshiba HD DVD starts at about $250, while Blu-ray players start at $335. The other consideration is finding DVDs to play on one of these machines. Each manufacturer has tried to sign studios to exclusive contracts, so you might want to check on the availability of particular movies before you make a decision.
   
   
5. Briefcase—Every lawyer needs a briefcase. Like cashmere, a good leather briefcase is a timeless gift that makes a fashion statement while being functional. They’re a thoughtful gift for someone who recently graduated from law school or a new partner. Styles vary from the currently popular messenger bag to the old-fashioned lawyer’s brief bag. Many lawyers carry a laptop with them and most briefcases, even traditional styles, now incorporate space for a lap top. Look for top or full-grain leather and check the overall construction. Is it reinforced so that it won’t sag when it’s full? Is the hardware nickel plated or made of solid brass? Are the zippers well constructed and do they slide smoothly? Does the lock close securely? Is the handle comfortable yet strong? Is the stitching even and the finish smooth? Is there sufficient room; are there gussets to allow for expansion? Will a legal size file folder fit into it? Will it accommodate a lap top? Does it have extra pockets for PDAs, cell phones, calculators and other handhelds? Decent quality briefcases start at about $150 and run as high as $700 and much more for top of the line designer models. Some names to look for include Jack Georges, Schlesinger, Ellington, Atlas, Crouch & Fitzgerald, Hartman, Bosca, and Coach.