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Gifts for Valentine's Day, 2002?

Telemakhos asks: "This was asked last year, and though hardware may come and go in the course of a year, the mid-February question is eternal: What's Geeky and Good for St. Val's this year? Moreover, if roses aren't yet too bleeding-edge, whence is it best to order them?" Guys, while you are suggesting presents for the ladies, aside from the obvious, what would you like for Cupid Day?

50 of 395 comments (clear)

  1. Valentines day gifts? by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mandrake 8.2 Beta 1 burned on red CD's,
    what linux geek wouldn't love getting a beta of a distro burned with love...

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Valentines day gifts? by SilentChris · · Score: 3, Funny
      A bloody rose cast forth on a pale sliver of iron bar.

      Oh, sorry, I was in my role-playing mode.

  2. Best V-day present by cperciva · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Someone to whom presents may reasonably be given on Valentine's day.

  3. Hand Lotion by Bender+Unit+22 · · Score: 3, Funny

    My gift for Valentine's day must be hand lotion.
    Because my right hand is suffering from dry skin.

  4. What do I want? by shaunak · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Guys, while you are suggesting presents for the ladies, aside from the obvious, what would you like for Cupid Day?"

    Well, I suppose one or two of them ladies you talk about would be nice. Do they run Linux?

    --
    -Shaunak.
    1. Re:What do I want? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Can I get a Beowulf cluster of those ladies?

    2. Re:What do I want? by spacefem · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm a lady, I run Linux. But I also think Valentine's day is RETARDED, as any logic-lovin' geek does.

  5. Books! by Kozz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think it's a gift option that's always overlooked, primarily because the buyer isn't sure what the recipient would want. But I've always believed that books can be a timeless gift, treasured for years. Whether it be fiction, non-fiction, reference, or a little of each, I know that I always appreciate books. Heck, go to FatBrain to find a huge collection of technical books, or maybe to ThinkGeek for options like fiction, non-fiction, programming reference, and so on. And if you're not sure, DO get a gift certificate for your loved one at a bookstore (or even for the aforementioned websites!). Then they can pick out the books themselves, and they can't hardly go wrong.

    --
    I only post comments when someone on the internet is wrong.
    1. Re:Books! by Flower · · Score: 5, Funny

      There's always the Kama Sutra. After all it is a book about geometry.

      --
      I don't want knowledge. I want certainty. - Law, David Bowie
  6. How about no tech toys? by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 5, Informative

    How about for V-day, no tech toys, but a nice evening alone with your lady? Dinner, wine, etc...

    1. Re:How about no tech toys? by egreB · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dinner, wine, etc...
      You mean, like, /etc? So that we (me and my fictional lady) can go trough it and optimize all the confi..
      Or did you mean something else? (-8

  7. I don't know about you.. by RainbowSix · · Score: 5, Funny

    but I usually get death threats and restraining orders.

    --
    --------
    It's OK to be social, just don't tell anyone about it.
  8. get a megabear... by Helix150 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Megatokyo Megabear

    gotta love that

    --
    --IronHelix
  9. Get her a nice shirt by harmonics · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ThinkGeek has got a great little baby tee (God why do I love these so much!) It's all black with the words "I love my Geek."

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/apparel/5981.shtml

    Very appropriate.

    What I would love to have? Get me a nice OpenBSD tee shirt.

    1. Re:Get her a nice shirt by chialea · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't know about you, but personally I find those shirts vaguely insulting. Little tight glittery teeshirt saying "I my geek"...

      I still think it would be funny if my boyfriend wore one, but he refuses. Not that I blame him.

      Lea

    2. Re:Get her a nice shirt by rulb · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That sounds like my husband. He won't let me get the shirt that says 'No I will not fix your computer'. I've been asking for that since before Christmas. I think that would be a cool present though.

      On the other hand I did convince him to get me a the SunBlade 100 for our wedding present; so I think geeky clothing is cool and is ok for presents.

      The best part about it is when your relatives ask you what it's talking about because they don't get it and when you explain they chalk it up as one of those computer things.

      One of the things I think would be neat-o to have is some of the Mindstorm Legos. I could entertain myself for hours with a those.

      He doesn't really give me ideas about what he wants for presents unless I prod him.

  10. A sweet note ... by GodWasAnAlien · · Score: 5, Funny

    A sweet note telling how Emperor Claudius beheaded St. Valentine in 270 CE, and compare this to your relationship somehow.

  11. For guys? by Havokmon · · Score: 5, Funny
    You mean guys actually get stuff for Valentines Day? I thought :

    (Quality(Rose)* totalroses) + Quality(dinner) = total_sex_time

    Where Quality() is a seperate program for each chick, based on past total_sex_time :)

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  12. The perfect gift... by Jurisenpai · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, since I already have this to match my boyfriend, nothing would be nicer than another T-shirt to proclaim my geekiness to the world.
    And, boys, don't forget to make it a night she won't forget of champagne, roses, chocolates, and patching your kernels together.

    --
    "Equal bytes for women!"
    1. Re:The perfect gift... by odaiwai · · Score: 5, Funny

      Of course, if you're Australian, 'Got Root' means something completely different...

      I guess a lot of chicks would like a good rooting for Valentine's Day...

      dave

    2. Re:The perfect gift... by connorbd · · Score: 3

      The problem is that most of us geek guys see geek girls as being incredibly unobtainable. Here's my take on geek girls:

      -Invariably gorgeous, though a lot of them don't realize it
      -Usually very adventurous
      -Generally much more graceful than geek guys
      -always, but always, utterly unobtainable, at least to the average guy geek off the street

      That, and there are many geek girls who are not the least bit technically inclined. I know one who fits very much into that category -- I think she's sort of a Stevie Nicks wannabe but she has the geek nature in spades. And she fits all of the above.

      /Brian

  13. A... by Gangis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hello Kitty sub-notebook computer powered by the Transmeta Crusoe chip!

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/17055.html

    --
    "Black holes are where God divided by zero." - Steve Wright
  14. I only know what not to give. by Dick+Click · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Every time the People's Jewellery Ad comes up on the TV with the heart-shaped diamond pendant, she turns to me and says, "Don't get that for me. No REALLY".
    Every year, I look for something that:
    a) Is something she wants,
    b) Is something that will signify my love for her, and
    c) Is something I deem has any value.
    Every year, I don't find it, and get her flowers. This always seems okay in the end.

  15. Perfect place for that new digital camera. by satanami69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A Nice musuem tour would be romantic enough, and still give me a place to make a short movie on the new DV camcorder that she can get me.

    I'm not going into details about the other movie I'll make that day, though.

    --
    I really hate Dan Patrick.
  16. Re:Nothing beats musical instruments! by Peyna · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Agreed! If I need something computer related, I'll buy it. I'll be more likely to find the best deal on a product that meets my needs and requirements.

    I would much prefer to have a gift that wasn't computer related, but related to something else I enjoy doing. For instance, I skateboard in my freetime, so skateboarding stuff is good too (Although, I'm picky about that as well, bad example!).

    Anyway, the point is that computer related items do not always make the best gifts unless you provide them with a full URL to exactly the item you want, but what's the fun in that?

    --
    What?
  17. Just one Frickin' Good Date... by dbretton · · Score: 4, Funny
    The ultimate geek Valentine's Day gift:

    A date with the Frick-meister!

  18. Something fer your hunk by MrIcee · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Considering that quite a number of *geeks* are gay... shouldn't the question have asked what your getting your *lover* instead of your *lady*?

    I suggest the QueerAsFolk first season DVD set. If it's too late to get it.... order up showtime :)

    But beyond that... you can also consider gifts that are not just for valentines day... such as a trip to Hawaii (buy your lover the airplane tickets and present them)... or a cruise... or learning how to scuba... etc.

  19. What not to get. by saintlupus · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's Geeky and Good for St. Val's this year?

    I'm not sure what my girlfriend is getting this year, but after her last birthday I can assure you that it won't be any sort of kitchen appliance.

    You know, you'd think that if she said so many times she wanted a toaster over, she'd appreciate it more.

    I'm such a lummox.

    --saint

    1. Re:What not to get. by yoderm · · Score: 3, Funny
      I can assure you that it won't be any sort of kitchen appliance.

      I disagree! Or, perhaps, my wife is not quite normal. The first year that we lived together, she kept telling me that she wanted a blender... so for Valentine's I got her a blender. Of course, I'm not a complete idiot - the blender had 6 roses in it. She loved it.

      And NO, I didn't blend the roses! Although I must admit, it was tempting...

      -Mike

      --
      This sig no verb.
  20. Ultimate geek lovers' gift - not invented yet by heretic108 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I look forward to reading of someone making millions off this idea.

    Something for romantic geeks whose work causes them to spend long nights hacking separately.

    Perfect especially if one or both are putting in late nights apart slaving over hot workstations...

    2 x wireless linux PDAs
    Each PDA has a harness and can be worn inconspicuously under clothing.
    Eash PDA is connected to several unique peripherals.
    Each such peripheral is thin, flat, about 4-9 square inches, consisting of pressure pads on the top, and vibrating pads on the bottom, and can also be worn inconspicuously under clothing.

    When one geek touches one of the peripherals, the pressure pad senses the touch, and sends a message to other geek's PDA, which triggers the vibrating function of corresponding peripheral on their own body, and vice versa.

    For instance, male geek can stroke just below his navel, and in response, female geek feels caressing vibrating sensation just below her navel. Female geek then rubs below her left armpit, and male geek feels vibrating sensation under his left armpit.

    Advanced software configuration could cause random mappings between geeks, even sending telemetry about blood pressure, body temp etc.

    --
    -- In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was UNSIGNED, and the main(){} was without form and void...
  21. Roses HOWTO by dschl · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Buy them fresh. Many smaller florists only get them in once a week, you may want to call in advance (today) to find out what day they get delivered. Of course, if you are waiting until the 14th to give them away, they are better off stored at the florists.
    2. Plan ahead. Valentines is peak season for florists - your best bet is to order a bouquet today for pickup on the 13th or 14th.
    3. Get Floritech or a similar preservative to get the longest life from the roses - they should last a week at least. For bonus points, get the florist to place a water-filled vial on each stem (called waterpicks, IIRC), to give you a little more flexibility in transporting the roses home / to your significant other's (SO) place. Rose care instructions.
    4. Buy a really nice vase which matches your SO's decor, and bring help your SO place the roses into it. Alternatively, you can get a florist to place a bouquet into a vase of your choice, as long as you can transport a vase full of water.
    5. Buy one, three, six, or multiples of a dozen roses - two or four roses look too symmetrical in a vase. Also, ask for some greens (fern-like green stuff that helps to fill in the bare rose stems) and baby's breath. Of course, colour matters
    6. Look into rose preservation - you can dry roses easily at home, and make a decent arrangement. Do a google search, but even hanging them upside down beside a window should work.
    --
    Slashdot - the place where you can look like a genius by restating the obvious
    1. Re:Roses HOWTO by ozbird · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is good advice, but to my way of thinking, red roses are probably a bad thing to buy on Valentine's Day.

      Apart from the obvious problems of supply and demand (and therefore cost), red roses are a no-brainer - it may be "traditional", but it's also predictable and boring! While geeks may lack in the "personality" department, they usually have "individuality" in spades, so go against the flow and do something original! Instead of red roses, try a bunch of mixed pastel colours (apricot, pink, cream etc.) or better still, a bunch of orchids (e.g. "Singapore orchids" - Dendrobium hybrids, I think.) These aren't the only options, of course, but they are pretty safe ones.

      And why stick to Valentine's Day, anyway? Again, it's a no-brainer to buy flowers because it's Valentine's Day, but there are 364 other days to choose from! Buy her flowers on a day because it isn't Valentine's Day, and you're likely to have a greater impact (and usually for all the right reasons.)

  22. The PERFECT gift for the special geek in your life by icejai · · Score: 5, Funny

    Her: "Happy valentine's day!"
    You: "Happy valentine's day!"

    You: "Here's your valentine's day present!"

    (hand her big wide, long, flat box)

    Her: (looks at the wrapping) "Oh wow... you got me a pizza

    You: "nonono! take off the wrapping!"

    (rip rip rip)

    Her: (looks at the box) "Oh wow... you got me a big box of chocolates

    You: "nonono! open the box!"

    (rip rip rip)

    Her: (looks inside the box) "Oh WOW!!! YOU GOT ME A RACKMOUNT SERVER!! Let's have sex!!"

    You: (air guitar)

  23. Dual-processor implementation by kriegsman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Although it can be extremely crash-prone, if you can get a dual-processor implementation of this up and running, the results can be quite spectacular.

    ("Imagine a Beowulf cluster of those!")

    -Mark

  24. What I Want by PRickard · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I don't have any problem thinking up gifts for a significant other. I'm creative, I'm financially blessed, and I've had several decades to think of romantic things I would like to do. The problem is that I have nobody to do them with - thus my gift wish for Valentine's day: a Valentine girl of my own to share it with. Instead, I always have to spend all of February avoiding public places and changing the TV channel quickly when some V-day ad comes on. Oh well, I guess we can't all be happily involved... *sigh*

    (ThinkGeek would be bigger than Amazon.com if it offered mail-order Geek brides.)

    --

    == Paul Rickard, Editor of The Microsoft Boycott Campaign ====

  25. Instead of chocolates by Ellen+Spertus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, available from NASA, science museums, or camping goods store. You could even include a note about wanting to travel to the stars with her/him.

  26. Re:Here's my plan... by bofkentucky · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Good thinking, bring your girlfriend into a town that is currently filled with thousands of drunk assholes yelling "Show yer tits". But, if she does, please take pictures...and post them

    --
    09f911029d74e35bd84156c5635688c0
  27. Think, just think. by Klowner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Did the poster of this story even stop to think, for a moment, that this article would probably plunge 50% of the slashdot community, including myself, into a deep deep depression by reminding them how single they are?

    ..At least my grandma sends me valentines cards

    *runs off crying*
    Klowner

  28. A show of spine is a nice gift by ColGraff · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a high school senior, I find I am completely and utterly lacking in anything resembling "nerve", "spine", or "courage". So while a statement to the amazingly attractive, intelligent, insightful girl who sits in front of me in Calculus (hope she doesn't read /.) that she is quite possible the most remarkable person I have ever met would be nice, it's out of the question. So instead I'm sending her an anonymous flower and card through the school "Valey-gram" program, and a box of the Oatmeal Square cereal thingies. Ah well, backbones are for other people, I always say.

    Enough with this maudlin Valentine's Day related self-pity - a high-caliber site like slashdot doesn't need the mumblings of a sappy highschooler. I say the best possible gift would be a Furby modded to say "Happy Valentine's Day" in as many different languages as possible.

    --
    I'm the stranger...posting to /.
  29. *snort* by Pope · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's more to life than logic, mon amie.

    --
    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
  30. Re:Check out richdate.com by zCyl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Check out richdate.com
    Its where you can win 3 dates and money! its pretty cool


    I have 4 mod-points left to spend, but I searched, and sadly there is no +1 Pathetic.

  31. WoSaT and reduced stress, that's what by TrinSF · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My /. sweetie's favorite film of all time is Mike Jittlov's Wizard of Speed and Time. He's got a laser disc copy but no disc player, so I got him a copy on VHS (from skinnyguy.com) so we can snuggle up and watch it on Valentine's Day. (I've never seen it all the way through.)

    Additionally, I've tried to make the day as simple and stressfree for him; like many geeks I know, he's uncomfortable trying to plan something romantic. I suggested a restaurant I'd enjoy and planned the movie, to ensure he didn't have to worry about what would please me.

  32. You don't regret your losses... by SatoriMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    only the things you never tried. (I'm sure someone famous said it better, but you get the idea).

    Take it from a shy geek who is MANY years out of high school. I don't remember the names of any of the women who turned me down, but I do remember the ones I never asked out.

  33. Bzzzzt! Wrong! by Robber+Baron · · Score: 3, Informative

    CE stands for Common Era!

    --

    You're using her as bait, Master!

  34. One semi-word, two syllables: by x136 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    iPod.

    And I guess that dual-gigahertz G4 that it's attached to will get you laid for at least a year...

    --
    SIGFEH
  35. Re:The PERFECT gift for the special geek in your l by TFloore · · Score: 5, Funny

    This would, of course, be for the girl that has a nice rack?

    No, I didn't even try to resist. :)

    --
    This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is... Oops. Frank, I've got your sig again! Where's mine?
  36. Obvious, but it needs to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A high school senior. God how I envy you.

    The path from high-school senior to middle aged man is maddeningly short with plenty of disappointments, triumphs and lots of experience that really kicks you in the nuts.

    Make a play for her. Risk embarassment. The truth is that she'll probably blow you off. But at a minimum, you won't look back with regret.

    In my sophomore year of college I spent a lot of time with a young lady that I absolutely found the most breathtaking, wonderful girl (woman?). And I didn't ask her out. I spent 9 months with her and didn't have the gonads to just say "Hey, how about you and me go get a pizza tonight". how foolish. Funny how we learn about courage after we don't need it so much.

    And understand that marriage, kids, mortgage and career are just as effective prison bars as the keenest steel and thickest walls. You can't go back for so many reasons. You have people who depend on you, from the littlest baby to the people who work for you and depend on you to point them in the right direction every day.

    There's every chance I'm the pathetic middle-aged loser you laugh at. There a sure chance you'll be the same thing in 25 years. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt so much. And I suppose the rewards are worth it.

    Revel in your time. Have fun. Don't worry so much, you'll do fine. And just ask her out to talk. Movies are a bad first date, unless you think you'll run out of things to say.

  37. Just find the freakin' clitoris! by LordNimon · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Trust me, that's what all women REALLY want you to do for Valentine's day.

    There's even a web site dedicated to it! Hint: click on the link labelled "cunnilingus". And whatever you do, don't complain that it smells!

    --
    And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
    To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
  38. What's the deal with flowers? by ErikTheRed · · Score: 4, Funny


    What kind of sick fucks are women that they want us to demonstrate affection by ripping the sex organs off of plants and presenting them as gifts? I mean, think about it...

    Of course, in all seriousness, the most of the employees at my local florest know my AmEx number by heart now...

    --

    Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
  39. Stuffed animals are great for geeks sometimes... by grammar+fascist · · Score: 5, Informative

    How about a plush Cthulhu?

    --
    I got my Linux laptop at System76.