Self-select ISA vs mini-cash ISA?

I've been reading this article on trustnet:
http://www.trustnet.com/general/new...&db=educational

It suggests that with a self-select ISA you can invest in anything, including cash.

I think that it's just a slight sloppiness of language. You can invest £4000 in a stocks and shares mini ISA and another £3000 in a cash mini ISA, or put £7000 in a s&s maxi ISA and keep some of it in ( taxed ) cash - the latter is, I suspect, what the writer of the article meant. There is the option of a maxi ISA with a cash component but AFAIK 1) they aren't offered by many providers and 2) the s&s part isn't self select.

Does this make it a good alternative to a cash ISA?

Absolutely not. It's a whole different level of risk.

Can I put £7000 in a self-select ISA and invest it in a trust or fund that has guarunteed fixed returns? Can any one give examples of such things?

No, guaranteed products are not allowed within a maxi ISA. The closest thing you will get to a guaranteed product is gilts held to redemption but you'd be hard put to find gilts that don't guarantee a loss, right now.

HTH

Cheerfulcat