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 have-to-have items to timeless classics.

1. Microsoft® Xbox™ 360—No question that the new Xbox is at the top of many lists this Christmas. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one you may be tempted to auction it off rather than give it away as a gift. (They were recently going for as much as $2000 on eBay®.) For gamers, the Xbox 360 represents the next stage in technology with it’s advanced graphics and sound qualities that take full advantage of HDTV and surround sound audio systems. The 360 is also the cornerstone of Microsoft’s strategy to take control of electronic devices throughout the home. If you can find one, the suggested price is $399. For the lucky ones who managed to get one, you might consider accessories, such as the Logitech® Harmony® remote that integrates the Xbox into a home-media system using one remote ($129.99), a wireless controller ($49.99) or a rechargeable battery pack ($11.99).
    
2. Cashmere—As a sign of timeless elegance and luxury few things beat cashmere, and it’s never been more popular—the Lands End catalogue 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 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. iPods 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. 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. The big news for the holiday season is the introduction of iPods that play videos as well as playing music and storing photographs. The newest iPods feature a whopping 60 MB hard drive that allows you to store up to 15,000 songs or 150 hours of video that can be viewed on a 2.5 inch color screen. Expect to pay around $100 for the base model and $400 for the high-end models. And don’t forget accessories. They range from cases for around $10 to plug-in speaker systems that can run up to $400 or more.
    
4. DVD collections—New DVD collections appear every week, especially since producers and studios realized that people will line up to buy boxed sets of their favorite TV shows. The nice thing about these collections is that you can find one to satisfy just about anyone and they come in a range of prices starting at about $20 and running to more than $400. The story here is that providers are now offering an entire series in one boxed set rather than making you buy a season at a time. New releases of complete series include Sex and the City ($199.99), Friends ($199.99), Six Feet Under ($339.98) Northern Exposure ($159.99) CSI-Crime Scene Investigation ($259.99), 24 ($179.99), West Wing ($254.98) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer ($199.99). If a complete collection seems like too much there are plenty of individual seasons available with new ones being released weekly. And remember...the industry has finally discovered the baby boomers. If you’re looking for a gift for your parents, there are lots of collections covering vintage shows from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
    
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 laptop. Look for top or full-grain leather and check the over all 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 laptop? 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.