Slashdot Mirror
Christmas Gifts for Geeks
scottfi writes "The shopping season is just about over and I'm always on the lookout for the cool geek gadget to get friends and family (or myself). What cool items are on your list this year or you have wrapped up for others? There are a ton of gift guides online, but I always like to see what the slashdot crowd would like under their tree." I recommend the Harmony Remote, an iPod, and of course a Slashdot Subscription ;)
I'm with Taco on the iPod. A digital camera with 5x or better optical zoom is a nice thing, too.
Also, you might look at bitChen. They look like much more fun than they should be, though very practical.
That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
Slashdot Subscription, the most expensive asterisk money can buy!
What makes it superior to the cheaper Rio Karma which also plays Ogg Vorbis and FLAC files among other things?
...but RAM is always a nice gift. I mean, right?
Give me a job for Christmas. After that, I can take care of my own toys.
Leatherman Juice Xe6 Chris Bozic
Man, you know you've got problems when you have to get your RealDoll drunk to get any action.
...a girl friend ?
uh. . . a good book?
--It's a special device that requires no memory cards, no special power cells, and can be used with simple sunlight.
But then that might be pushing too far for today's geek:)
(Say something in an Umberto Eco)
-[joke removed for your safety]-
I am breaking out my soldering iron to work on this gift coming from my wife...the Enigma-e This is a brand new kit project so you can make an electronic working replica of the German Enigma machine. Includes plans to make yourself a wooden case and also code sheets from German Enigma files. Find it here: www.xat.nl/enigma-e Its from the Netherlands - sold through Bletchley Park in the UK - www.bletchleypark.org.uk It also connects to your PC with a serial cable - then you can transmit coded messages through something like hyperterminal. Enjoy.
Cmdr Taco for Xmas...
Merry Christmas!
Sig it.
My female robot...
This is going to be the be best prom ever!
My brother gave me a Symbol CS1504 barcode scanner (a little over $100). Brown box, no app software, not much of a manual, just USB driver and a web site to discuss the unit. I've now written my own Java code to read it and look up UPC barcodes on the web. Haven't figured out exactly what to do with it, but it's small and has got a laser - what more could you want? Kept me entertained working on code for it for months.
For example, the swinging Tux pendant is simply adorable! She'll love you forever for it!
People say I'm crazy, I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes...
How about donations to "geek" charities such as the EFF or EPIC? I'm sure other worthwhile OpenSource projects such as GNOME can also use a gift. Donations are environmentally friendly, don't require batteries, never break, and won't clutter your apartment or add more confusion to your life.
I had the same problems, and decided to go with DVD+RW (Just for video, not data storage.) Dual format burners are coming down in price, too, so you don't have to settle for one side.
:D
An FAQ
Useful link
have fun, nothing like getting a new geek toy
I want what all nerds want .. a super good looking gf ..
We're all nerds .. A 150 Megapix digital camera ..
.. A flux capacitor ..
.. A light saber ..
I recommend a flame thrower - it is equally well capable of burning + or - RW disks, AND all the packaging along with it.
liqbase
Who modded the parent Insightful? I picked up a /. sub for the same reason I tip the waiter/waitress when I go out to dinner. Sure, I could pick up my own food, refill my own glass, and bus my own table, but I'd rather spend my time enjoying my food and chatting with people, so here's a few bucks for your trouble, kid. I have no qualms about paying for a service, nor do I feel so entitled that I demand things that my subscription couldn't pay for.
/. for Christmas. :D
On the other hand, a subscription as a gift seems patently asinine to me. I can't think of any of my friends who wouldn't sock me in the face for getting them a lame gift like ad-free
Auto-reply to ACs: "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
some times I wish mod points were on sale :) It would make ideal gift to many of my buddies and ofcourse to myself too..
I considered a USB coffee cup warmer for my husband until I read that it only keeps coffee lukewarm. I also considered the WFS-1 wifi detector, which is far superior to the Kensington model, but I nixed that because it doesn't distinguish between open and closed networks.
If we were filling stockings for grown-ups, I'd have gotten a bunch of Cyberguy Power Strip Liberators, which double your outlet access and are only $2.39 each. I have some and love them.
I was going to get my puzzle-loving brother-in-law a Shmuzzle Puzzle, but the U.S. rerelease, which had been scheduled for Dec. 3 on QVC has been postponed indefinitely. Canadians can buy them over the counter.
Some of the geekier presents I ordered for my nieces and nephews, all of whom are of course brilliant:
Slightly less geeky gifts:
This is soo funny : (taken from RealDoll.com)
Realdoll Features:
* Elastic - flesh can withstand over 300% elongation
* Heat Resistant - can withstand over 300 degrees heat
* Water Resistant - solid construction
* Stain Resistant - nothing sticks to silicone flesh
* Durable - long life silicone rubber
* Lifelike - anatomically correct, parts molded from life-casts
* Realistic Feel - pliant and soft in all the right places
* Odorless and Flavorless
* Flexible - wide range of joint movement
* Sexy and Pleasurable - provides effective aid to sexual fulfillment
* Safe - no risk of disease, nontoxic
* Convenient - always ready & available
* Relaxing and Comforting - provides stress-free companionship
* Affordable - cheaper than most alternatives
Ok here are some of the cool toys for your geek this Christmas. Anything on this list is something he should already have, so if he doesn't - he wants it.
[X]802.11b Wireless gear. You can get the base station and a card for under $100 total now - I suggest Linksys.
[X]LCD Monitor. Welcome to the 21st Century - a good 18" LCD (Dell 1800fp) can be had in the $400 to $500 range. Even a 15" LCD is nicer than a 17" CRT if he isn't too pissy about the 1024x768 max resolution - if he writes code go at least 17" to get one that does 1280x1024.
[X]USB Thumbdrive / Jumpdrive. 64M on a keychain, get one that doesn't look too frail (I have the Lexar Jumpdrive 64M, clear purple plastic and I am afraid I am going to shatter it in my pocket.) Cost about $30 for a 64M drive.
[ ]iPod. Has already been thrashed to death in this thread, but there is a reason for that.
[X]DVD burner. A nice 4x unit can be had for under $200 easily. Stick to brand name hardware.
[X]Good wireless keyboard / mouse combo. Logitech makes a killer set, less than $100. If he is still using that cheap $4 OEM keyboard they included with his computer, get him this.
Targus Defcon1 laptop protection device. It has a blinkenlight and is motion sensitive, if anybody cuts the steel wire or moves the unit it goes absolutely ape-shit klaxxon alarming away until disarmed with the code or a big hammer. Doesn't make a laptop impossible to steal, just makes someone else's laptop easier to steal.
[X]Digital camera - stick to brand name if you don't know what you are doing. Sony, Kodak, HP, etc. Make sure it uses CompactFlash cards and uses regular AA sized batteries if possible. One that uses those mini-CDs would also be cool (but is a little on the costly side.)
[X]Laser pointer. If he doesn't have one yet he is seriously deprived - hook him up. Shark is optional.
[ ]Bluetooth telephone headset if his cell phone can use it. These are entirely too cool, but a little expensive ($100) so he probably hasn't justified getting himself one yet.
[ ]Gigabit networking. Now that Gigabit network cards have come down in price (less than $50 for Intel) and switches too (think Linksys at $200 - Intel is still a little too proud) for under $400 you could outfit most of his personal network at Gigabit speeds.
Note - anything above that doesn't have a [X] I don't have. Hint hint.
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer