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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?
There's something deeply wrong if you're shopping for gifts at Target; take a step back and ask yourself why you're even bothering in the first place. Because you "have to?"
Send a nice card or take them to dinner if you can't find something unique and "nice". Sorry, but I'm a bit of a purist in that sense--either make it tasteful and personal, or don't give a gift.
I'd rather get a phone call saying "hi", or a card than some tacky mail order department store shit.
Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
For the non-geek a PDA would prove to be quite useful. PalmOS based ones are very nice. Even for geeks they are nice. My personal fave is the Zire71. Simple to use, bright screen, built-in camera, and yes, it will remind the person you got it for who gave the gift. I gave my gf a Zire71 and she uses it daily for her job, and it's not because of the geek-factor, it's because she can use it to help her manage her schedules and contacts. My old boss got one for his retirement, and he loves it. He is not a "geek" at all. My sister has went from a Palm Vx, which broke, to a Pocket PC. She's not a geek either, far from one, and yet she loves hers too.
A lot of the non-tech's in my life would like to take advantage of the latest technology, but don't know how. So every tech gift should come with free tech support..
For example:
Wireless Router: They'll love surfing the web from the couch on their business laptops -- just be sure to set it all up for them.
Tivo: Most non-techs I know watch a LOT of TV. Tivo is easy enough that they may not even need your help with it.
Universal Remote: Over the years, you've built up their entertainment system with an amplifier, pre-amplifier, DVD player, CD changer, etc but they can't figure out how to just watch TV. Buy a good universal remote and program it to have easy "Watch TV", "Watch a DVD", "Listen to Music" buttons.
MP3 Player: Obviously great for exercise buffs
Roomba: Who wouldn't love a robot vacuum cleaner
Just about anything from Sharper Image or Brookstone, especially the Foot Massager: Everybody loves this stuff but will never buy it for themselves
Non-geeks like jewelry, books, kitchen stuff, etc.
I got my wife a pair of Bulova watches (one for every day, one for special occasions), a book on used book stores, a book on Breyer collectable horses (which she collects), the usual assortment of candy, the new Train CD, a new Williams-Sonoma tea kettle, and some other small stuff. Not a geek toy in the bunch, even if I did order quite a bit of it online.
BTW, if you know my wife (not likely if you read slashdot), don't tell her!
- Vincit qui patitur.
Give them a coupon that says you will fix their computer for free the next time they screw it up or some other techie service.
Do all of the following
1. buy something nice
2. buy something feminine (perfume, hand creme, pajamas, etc)
3. Do something requiring effort (make a gift, clean the toilet, etc)
4. Wrap things nicely
5. buy some everyday things since she will be reminded of your good thougts every time they are used, earrings, necklaces, etc.
I'll add one joke here:
6. Pray (only if you are from France)
Someone gave me a rock one time though I *never* talk about geology. They gave it because they thought it was "cool". It is cool, though it's not a good gift. It's 10lbs of crystal that is hard to dust and too fragile to wash...perfect in the cave it was ripped out of and horrid for a fireplace mantle piece.
If you care about someone, do the right thing. The last thing you want is them to remember your gift everytime they stumble over the boat anchor of a gift that was dumped on them.
Repeat after me;
Consumable
Disposable
Tickets to the theater and unique food or drink (beer!) are a couple examples that come to mind. Gift cards -- if you know the person well enough to know they like the store and will use the entire card -- are a good choice, though book stores or restaurants are better choices while ones to most other stores that sell dust catchers or breakable items are not.
A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
If you have your Key Ring torch don't you also have your keys?
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
> Who doesn't go to Blockbuster?
Anyone who likes porn doesn't go to Blockbuster. Get your friends a good porn web site subscription instead.
Don't sweat it. That link goes to a news article.