A guest post by Barry Doctor, product marketing manager at Katun, Inc., and lifelong observer of cool gadgets and tech toys, who is green with jealousy of those who obtain these toys in their early stages.
While it is the goal of some product managers to simply obtain enough time off to properly enjoy the holidays – rest, relax and recharge. Others wish for more QA resources and a CEO that shares a change in company direction more than 6 weeks before launch of that major new product. Others were hoping for a job or an acquisition. Since fulfillment of these abstract items is particularly difficult, we’ve chosen some unique, obscure products that solve a market problem or cause a product manager to exclaim “that’s cool” out loud.
In no particular order:
- A Mac Mini the world’s most energy efficient desktop computer www.apple.com/macmini/
- iPad – it does things no tablet PC, netbook, or e-reader could. www.apple.com/ipad/
- Kindle portable e-book reader www.amazon.com/kindle
- Xbox Kinect “controller-free gaming and entertainment experience” www.xbox.com/en-US/kinect
- Vacation trip to Maui – memorable ‘nuff said www.visitmaui.com/
- Flying car – Chitty Bang Bang for the new Millennium by Hammacher Schlemmer http://www.hammacher.com/Product/11812?promo=homepage_hero
- Solar Fuel Cell Car Experiment Kit – for the eco-responsible http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/products/fc/fc2.html
- Dropbox subscription www.dropbox.com
- Twitter Schwag http://mashable.com/2009/12/13/twitter-gift-guide/
- Odd geek gifts http://mashable.com/2009/09/26/geek-products/
- Dishwasher with a touch screen http://www.fastcompany.com/1701278/your-dishwasher-could-really-use-a-touch-screen
- A new 4G Android smart device from T-Mobile. www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones
- Invitation to Facebook email www.facebook.com
- LumaTwist, your own personal satellite http://www.fastcompany.com/1702627/wanted-your-own-personal-satellite
Finally, a holiday season wish:
I wish the sponsors of the product management community could come together. Their fractured appearance is evident to everyone in product management. In this season of giving and friendship, let’s find a way to develop and grow the community, not create new wedges.
Regardless of what you believe, here is to wishing you and your family a very Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!
Follow Barry on twitter, or contact him through his LinkedIn profile.

If anyone is wondering, I’d like the Flying Car please… or the Vacation Trip to Maui…