I guess I should start this post by saying that I haven’t actually seen the new Apple iPad firsthand.  But in all honesty, I don’t think it really matters.  I’ve read enough of the hype, seen enough of the videos, and read enough iPad reviews to form an opinion about whether the iPad could potentially be the next best thing since sliced bread.  And, while I’ll admit that it does sound pretty amazing, I do have a few concerns about it.

For anyone who is not yet familiar with the features of the Apple iPad, here’s a quick rundown:

- Will run all of your existing iPhone Apps and Games

- iBooks – Book Store like Amazon

- iWorks Suite of Apps (which, for the uninitiated, is Apple’s app for creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations)

- Mobile phone functionality

- Unlocked to accept the SIM card of any mobile phone provider

- .5 inches thin and weighs 1.5 lbs

- 9.7 inch IPS Capacitive multi-touch display

- 1GHz proc Apple A4 chip (PA Semi!)

- Comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, all with varying prices

- 802.11n WiFi, BT 2.1 and Compass

- 10 hrs of battery life and 1 month standby

It might take me a bit of time to wrap my head around a computer that can also be a phone.  But OK, I can see why someone might not want to walk around town with 2 gadgets, when they can carry only 1 while enjoying the functionality of both.  My biggest concern comes, however, from the fact that if I had my computer so accessible and if I carried my computer around as I carried my phone, my social life would go down the toilet.  It’s bad enough when people are constantly checking their email (On the train! At the dinner table! In the bathroom!), but with an iPad, nobody would have an excuse as to why they didn’t do the requested work immediately – they could never use the excuse ‘I was away from my computer.’  While this type of availability could potentially turn is into an even more productive society, I have no doubt that it will detract considerably from the social nature of man.

I’m slightly disappointed by the missing features on the iPad including a lack of USB port and no camera feature.  I can’t quite picture how a 10 inch screen would be a camera.  But if I had to take a camera and an iPad, I might as well just take my iPhone and my laptop, right?  It’s the same 2 things to carry around.

Finally, I’m a bit puzzled about why people should invest in the iPad when they’ve only just begun to truly enjoy their iPhone.  And with an iPhone 4G speculated to debut as early as this summer, how can consumers decide which Apple product is really worth spending money on?  Still, as someone with a large-screen laptop that is incredibly heavy to carry, it might be time for me to upgrade – and choosing an iPad as an affordable and comfortable alternative to a standard laptop may not be out of the question.

It’s bound to happen that you’ll need to get gifts for someone…whether it’s a coworker, a relative, a partner or even a holiday gift for yourmailman.  And, while you will always be safe with flowers, gifts that are a bit more personal always make a much nicer statement.  The question is, how can you get gifts for someone you don’t know well?  Equally importantly, how can you get a truly great gift for an acquaintance?

Here are 5 ways to make a thoughtful gift selection for anyone, for any occasion.  Want to share your gift-giving secrets?  We’d love to hear (and share) them!

1. Choose something popular. You don’t need to get an iPhone for everyone that you owe a gift to, but getting something that is popular in the moment is always a safe bet.  Ask your mailman if he has a Wii or Xbox, and consider getting him the latest game.  Or, if he has a Kindle, a new download would be a considerate gesture.  A Snuggie may also be a good bet this winter.  Look around, see what’s popular (and in your price range), and don’t be afraid to get something trendy.
2. Go classic. A gift certificate is always a safe bet when looking to get great gifts for anyone.  Who doesn’t love a free dinner, or even a few free cups of coffee at the local gourmet café?  Just make sure that the amount of the gift certificate is enough to get a good dinner, without the recipient having to add for things like a drink or dessert.
3. Do your research. There’s nothing worse than receiving a gift that is thoughtful but not well researched…an online movie subscription, for example, that doesn’t deliver to the recipient’s area, or an mp3 player that won’t last for more than a month.  Take a few minutes to read reviews about the item you’re buying so that you know it will be enjoyed for a long time.
4. Give a gift receipt. Unfortunately, even the best intentions aren’t always perfect, and even things that you think are great gifts may not be appreciated entirely by the recipient.  Gifts that can be returned or exchanged are always appreciated (and, as an added bonus, they prove that you purchased the gift expressly for the recipient, and were not regifting something that you rejected).
5. Purchase off a registry. If you’re looking for great gift ideas for weddings or births, ask the recipient if he or she has registered anywhere.  A gift registry can save you a lot of time and stress as you know that your gift selection will be well-received.

Ever purchase a big-ticket item or a product that you weren’t entirely familiar with?  Ever spend a significant amount of money on something, only to realize that it wasn’t exactly what you wanted, that it didn’t work as effortlessly as advertised or worse, that it didn’t function at all?  And while you’re surely not the only unsatisfied customer in the world, don’t you ever wish that you could just rewind the clock and do things right the first time, so that you don’t have to fix what you’ve already done?  Here are 3 reasons why consumer market research can help you make smart choices, and why you should never make another big purchase without proper consumer research.

1. Save time. There’s no doubt that thorough consumer research takes time.  But it usually doesn’t take as much time as dealing with returns, contesting charges on your credit card, or taking broken items to be repaired.  Depending on the item you’re interested in, consumer research can be done almost completely from home, by reading reviews online and seeing for yourself whether others enjoyed their purchase.
2. Save money. Another significant benefit of consumer market research is the ability save money, which can be accomplished in two ways.  Consumer research can help you ascertain whether or not you’ve found the best price for your desired item.  And, of course, by using research to confirm that you’ve made the best decision, you can save yourself the money that it might cost to ship the item back or have it repaired.
3. Save your sanity. In today’s busy world, few things are less convenient than standing on line at the return counter when you should be at work, at the gym, or spending time with your children.  Although consumer market research can’t guarantee that you’re choice will be perfect, but it does increase the likelihood that you’ll avoid the aggravations associated with making an imperfect purchase.

It goes without saying that even informed, smart decisions may not always be ideal.  But by hearing the feedback and experiences of other users, you can receive a satisfactory idea of whether or not your desired item may be reliable, or whether you should look for a better solution.  You may not need to embark upon consumer research before purchasing a new pair of socks, but if you’re purchasing anything pricey or anything that you hope will last a while, consumer market research is definitely a must.