| Over 80% percent of households in the UK own | | | | |
| a mobile phone, roughly 30% an MP3 player and | | | | If you are considering giving a gadget as a |
| 20% a DAB ("Digital Audio Broadcast") radio. | | | | Christmas gift, October is the month when, |
| Many other gadgets are also extremely | | | | traditionally, products and special offers |
| popular. Their popularity is no longer | | | | directed specifically towards the Christmas |
| restricted, as it once was, to men aged | | | | market start to appear, in the shops, and |
| between 16 and 34, with many women spending a | | | | online. There are so many different gadgets, |
| significant proportion of their income on | | | | ranging in price from a few pounds, to |
| gadgets of one form or another. | | | | hundreds of pounds, to choose from that you |
| | | | will, undoubtedly, find something suitable |
| Gifts and Gadgets for Christmas | | | | for any recipient, and any budget. |
| | | | |
| "Big boys' toys", including GPS ("Global | | | | Gadget Safety |
| Positioning System"), navigation systems, and | | | | |
| speed camera detection systems, for | | | | Gadget safety is paramount, especially if you |
| motorists, is one category of gadget that is | | | | are buying a gadget as a gift for a younger |
| expanding, in terms of market share and | | | | person. Most reputable retailers provide a |
| popularity. Mobile phones, VoIP ("Voice over | | | | comprehensive description of a gadget and its |
| Internet Protocol") phones, portable media | | | | intended purpose, along with a recommended |
| players and all the associated accessories, | | | | age range, and any appropriate warnings. Good |
| including headsets, and the like, can also be | | | | quality gadgets will bear the BSI Kitemark, |
| included in the category. Some computing, and | | | | and/or the CE mark from the European Union, |
| networking, products - particularly those | | | | as an indication of their safety, and |
| operated via the USB ("Universal Serial Bus") | | | | suitability for the purpose for which they |
| port of a computer - also have a definite, | | | | are designed. |
| practical application. | | | | |
| | | | Conclusion |
| That is not to say that all gadgets are, | | | | |
| necessarily, entirely practical. Some may, | | | | If you are buying a gadget for someone else, |
| indeed, be of limited practical value, but | | | | try to make sure that they will derive a good |
| are, instead, appealing because of their | | | | deal of benefit, or pleasure from it. If the |
| quirky nature, as fun and novelty items. | | | | recipient is the sort of person who takes |
| Exactly where the line is drawn, between | | | | delight in anything new and quirky, then |
| useful and downright silly, is often highly | | | | almost any gadget (within reason) is likely |
| subjective, and a matter of personal taste | | | | to provide hours of entertainment. Other, |
| and preference. If your best friend was to | | | | perhaps slightly older, recipients may find |
| argue, for example, that Sudoko toilet paper | | | | that the "novelty" of a novelty item soon |
| and a USB toaster are a necessary part of | | | | wears off, and may be better suited to a |
| his, or her, daily routine, who are you to | | | | gadget of a more practical nature. |
| argue? | | | | |