It’s as if Apple planned the release of the new iPad in the middle of tax season so that we’d spend our returns on the shiny, new tablet. And Apple may be onto something—the new iPad is on the top of many a wish list. Why? Besides being the latest and most buzzed-about release from Apple, the new iPad has a breathtaking, ultrahigh-resolution display. It also has the best app selection of any tablet, features excellent 3G and 4G network capabilities, and is the best large-screen tablet around. Prices start at $499 and go up to $829, making the new iPad a worthy contender for our tax refund.

If you’re going to spend a good chunk of your tax return on an iPad, you better invest a little extra on a protective case. With hundreds of options out there, we made it easy by rounding up 24 cool new iPad cases for you to choose from. For those looking for a laptop experience, the Zaggfolio ($99 to $129.99) doubles as a case and a Bluetooth keyboard. The keyboard is removable and offers iPad-specific keys like volume and music controls, Home, Search, Copy, and Paste. Another keyboard-case-combo is the Clamcase ($149), which effectively transforms your iPad into a laptop. It has a 350-degree hinge and a comfortable chiclet-style Bluetooth keyboard with 14 function keys.

For something a little more rugged, the Drop Tech Series from Gumdrop ($59.95) promises multiple layers of shock absorption. It’s constructed from ruggedized silicone with reinforced rubber bumpers and a thick lip around the iPad’s display. It also has an integrated polycarbonate screen protector to keep that fancy new Retina Display safe. Griffin’s Survivor case ($79.99) features a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame that’s covered with shock-absorbent silicone and can withstand a fall on concrete from up to six feet high.

When that refund check lands in your bank account, you may find yourself singing the O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money(Opens in a new window),” but to hear the real beauty of this funky classic, you may want to use some of that refund on a new set of headphones. We recently rounded up some of our favorite top-rated earphones and headphones and one of the best on the list is the Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones ($179.96 list). Receiving a PCMag Editors’ Choice award and a rating of 4 out of 5, these headphones feature excellent audio quality and a rich bass response. Its innovative design provides a secure fit, and the Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones also feature built-in iPhone/iPod/iPad controls.

Another Editors’ Choice, the Etymotic ER-4PT ($299 direct) were rated a 4.5 out of 5 for its high-quality flat response with accurate bass. Reviewer Tim Gideon said it’s perhaps the “most accurate flat response pair of earphones you can buy, and it’s worth every penny.” With a low-profile and lightweight design, the Etymotic ER-4PT provides users with excellent ear-to-ear stereo image accuracy.

At $299.99, the Sony PlayStation Vita will ease your guilt about spending your refund on a toy instead of paying off part of your college loans. Our newest Editors’ Choice handheld gaming system surpasses the PlayStation 2 in power, and comes pretty darn close to the capabilities of the PlayStation 3—all in a device you can take with you on the go. Its powerful graphics, beautiful screen, and dual analog sticks are only a few of the features that make it one of the best handheld game systems to date.

Reviewer Will Greenwald said the PlayStation Vita is “a significant step ahead of the Nintendo 3DS” thanks in part to its front-and back-facing cameras that are slightly sharper than those of the 3DS. That being said, the Nintendo 3DS is only $169.99 and also received an Editors’ Choice and a 4-out-of-5-star rating, so if you’re looking for an under-$200 splurge, the 3DS may be a better choice.

If you’re looking for a way to not only store multimedia and other data, but also share, stream, and remotely access that content, you need to spend some of that sweet, sweet refund money on a network attached storage (NAS) device. True, it doesn’t sound as exciting as, say, an iPad, but it’s one gadget that can simplify your life. A NAS is used largely for filesharing and streaming multimedia. Instead of attaching directly to a computer, it attaches to a network, meaning every computer in your house can share and store data on your network. The LG Super Multi N2A2 NAS was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and received an Editors’ Choice award. It’s easy to use, has a hassle-free setup, runs quietly, and multi-tasks as a media server, an iTunes server, FTP, or printer server. At around $259 for 2TB, it’s also a great deal.

The Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 is one of the most visually stunning HDTVs we’ve seen. We rated it a 4.5 out of 5 stars and gave it an Editors’ Choice award for its excellent black levels and color accuracy, as well as its crisp, detailed picture. The 55-inch beauty is 3D-ready and comes with built-in Wi-Fi for using its generous selection of Web apps. It costs $2,899.99 (direct) and you’ll have to pay a bit more for the 3D glasses, but you should be able to stay close to your $3,000 budget.

We live in a smartphone-centric world. A world where there’s an app for everything. So why not download an app to control the temperature of your house? The Nest Learning Thermostat is simple to use: just turn the dial to change the temperature and after a few days, or maybe a week tops, it will know your house’s schedule and create a unique program. The Nest Learning Thermostat connects to your home Wi-Fi network and lets you remotely control your household’s temperature through your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can also use your device to watch energy consumption, track when heating and cooling is used most, and make plans to reduce your energy bill. Though $250 may seem a little steep for a thermostat you might not necessarily need, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that houses can cut about 20 to 30 percent of energy by having a set schedule. There’s also no installation fee; you can install the Nest thermostat all by yourself in just 20 minutes.

If you really want to go all out and spend as much of your refund as possible, we rounded up a few prize packages for both Apple and Windows aficionados.

Apple: The majority of your refund will go toward a 15-inch MacBook Pro ($1,799) which was rated a 4 out of 5 and given our Editors’ Choice award for being the fastest, most technologically advanced laptop to grace our labs. With whatever extra money you have, you can also throw in the 64GB iPad ($699), an iPhone 4S 32GB ($299), an iTunes Match subscription ($24.95 a year), and an Airport Express ($99) for a grand total of $2,920.95 (before tax).

Windows: The Samsung Series 7 Slate PC may look like just another tablet, but the 4-star tablet showed us that you don’t have to forgo features and comfort with a Windows tablet. The Series 7 Slate is twice the computer of any of the previous Windows tablets we’ve reviewed—a large reason why the price ($1,349.99 direct) is so high. It features a Core i5 CPU and 4GB of RAM, and also comes bundled with a dock and keyboard. Though the Series 7 Slate tablet may cost more than an iPad, the Samsung Series 7 (NP700Z5A-S03) laptop, at $1,299 (list), is still $500 less than a MacBook Pro. This Editors’ Choice laptop is a winning desktop replacement with a quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a spacious 750GB hard drive. It’s a breeze to take on the go thanks to its slim chassis that’s less than an inch thick. With the extra couple hundred bucks you have left, toss in a Windows 7 phone like the Samsung Focus S (AT&T) ($199.99). That adds up to a subtotal of $2,848.98, leaving you a little bit of cash left for part of the sales tax.