Gifts Ideas For 'Non-Geek' Types?

BRock97 asks: "There is no better activity which sheds light on 'Geek/Non-Geek' interaction than Christmas shopping. As I try and browse Target's online store looking for the perfect gift, I can't help be gravitate back to ThinkGeek in hopes I will find something that the receiver of the gift will find useful AND also remind them of the person who gave it. I was curious as to what other /.'ers were planning on getting their friends and loved ones (parents/grandparents) who live the 'non-geek' lifestyle." We've already told Santa what we'd like for Christmas, now what about the non-geeks in our lives?

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[Eye of the Frog]

I got a bunch of little stuff for people there:

• Thinking Putty(Kids will love it)
• Magnetic Marble Rollercoaster(Another kid favorite)
• Airzooka(Have fun with the dog)
• Powerball Gyroscope(My friend can't put it down :)
• Sock Monkey!(I got this for a bunch of people. Great for small gift idea)

Is that good, or have I become out of touch with non-geeks?

Mini white LED keyring torches.

[StressedEd]

You can generally find them for about 6 to 10 here in the UK. They are surprisingly bright and perfect for use when you have parked the car somewhere dark and lost your keys. They also look pretty robust, though I havn't had one long enough to attest to that.

gifts for the non-geek

[jaredcat]

There are a couple of easy ones that I use and re-use every year always with good results:

In a hurry: Blockbuster Gift Card. Who doesn't go to Blockbuster? Geeks who use Netflix, right? Well stop trying to convert those poor ole simple folk and give them what they need-- a way to pay off that $15 3-day late fee. Another quick gift (if you are REALLY last minute) is an Instant Prepaid Phone Card. Some companies (NobelCom.com springs to mind) will even send out a gift e-mail along with the Access Number and PIN on whatever day the event is-- for instance, have it arrive on someone's birthday. This is a good gift for people who make a lot of International calls (think H1B workers and non-resident aliens), but other than that, you suck if you are so last minute that you have to buy an instant phone card as a gift.

Gourmet Food: Everyone likes to eat tastey things. Try iGourmet.com for a wide selection on everything from wine and cheese to curred ostrich, and try Dans.com for the best chocolates anywhere.

Flowers: Women love flowers. Gay men love flowers. Heck, little girls love flowers. I sent flowers to my 12-year-old niece for her birthday in October and she loved them! KaBloom.com consistantly has the best presentation when you open the box compared to 800flowers or FTD. Too bad their website is kinda hokey.

Designer Apparel: Nothing says "I know style" like a new pair of Gucci, Christian Dior, or Versace glasses. You can get these in stores everywhere (try Sunglass Hut and Solstice), or for the really good stuff, online at eyewearcentre.com. Beware discount vendors like 'EyeSave', and especially stay away from eBay. There are more fake designer glasses on eBay than there are fake Rolexes in a New York Street Vendor's cart-- and even though you probably can't tell, trust me, your mark can and will notice a fake. The most important things when picking designer apparel are: Get something from THIS SEASON'S COLLECTION. Getting last year's stuff on sale will NOT go over well. Make sure this is a color or style that looks ok on your mark. If you are clueless, look at that person's existing favorite clothes, glasses, etc. for reference. For glasses: make sure that you get the right shape for that person's face type. Again, if clueless, look at that person's existing stuff, or see this nice chart.

P-Lease

[JamesP]

How can this be difficult? Ok, ok, I guess for geeks it's a bit tricky... But, even for me, I think it's not THAT difficult...

1 - What age class? (Older (like in Grandparents, parents) younger (like in smaller cousins, kids) or same age (friends, Girlfriend/Boyfriend)

2 - What does this person enjoy: gardening, maybe a sports person, someone who likes cooking, reading, you can't go wrong with flowers/perfume to your girlfriend ( but you probably will want something more expensive for Xmas ). Jewlery is also nice... The list goes on and on...

3 - Not to be scary or something, if you're really in trouble, try and look what other people buy (you know, normal people, those who can't tell Javascript from Java, or better, never heard of Javascript.... yes, that's it)