Thank you for the responses. Initially I was eyeing and offset-vertical char-coal smoker because my buddy has an Oklahoma Joe offset horizontal smoker. Although he loves his, the uneven heat requires rotation of the food; from what I've been reading thus far, a vertical smoker doesn't have that issue. The one that I was eyeing was the
Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset. Had Dyna-Glo not run out of these, my wife was going to surprise me with it last summer (they were waiting on new order from the manufacturer). I never considered pellet smokers, so I never looked into one but now, I'm going to.
My weekends traveling to NYC for work are nearing an end soon, so I'll have too much time on my hands, I think smoking food will be the right fix for me. I'm looking forward to next fall, when I can get up early on Sunday’s, smoking some food, sit back have a few drinks and watch a Pat's game.
I never considered pellet smokers, so I never looked into them but now, I'm going to.