“Online shopping isn’t without its drawbacks. You don’t get the same instant gratification that you do when buying a product in person at a store and taking it home that day. And during the holiday season, that’s an even bigger issue—buy too late, and your gift recipient ends up with an I.O.U. while you wait for delivery.With that in mind, I went on a scouting trip this past weekend to see what my local chain stores had to offer in terms of iPod gear. If you’ve got one of these stores in your area—and if you live in the U.S., it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ve got several—you’ve got a source of readily available gifts for your favorite iPod-lover. Arm yourself with buying advice from Playlist’s Product Guide, our Winter Gift Guide, or our picks for the best products of 2006, and you can be confident that your last-minute shopping trip is still going to uncover a great, reliable gift” ….. <More>

Tags: Products, Technology