It’s that time of year again. With Christmas looming, only six days away now, we’re finally getting around to looking for gifts for our ‘geeky’ friends. That’s not a derogatory term, not to us anyway. We’re proud of our geekiness…as long as it doesn’t extend to clothing. That’s where we draw the line! Here are some cool ideas for your tech savvy friends.

 

1. A subscription to Maximum PC. We’ve been fans and subscribers to MaxPC since it was called Boot, many years ago. For the ultimate in hardware and software tips and updates, MaxPC is the best gift to find under the tree. Here’s the link: Maximum PC

 

2. We’re always looking for extra storage, whether it be internal or external. Things like flash drives and external hard drives are never sneered at, believe us. We’d love to have a 32 or 64 gig  flash drive hanging around for our Linux projects and this is the time of year when these things are fairly inexpensive. Check Dell or New Egg or even Amazon. Compare prices carefully and make sure you get a brand name. It’s worth the extra few bucks to get something with a name you recognize since it will likely come with a decent warranty. For external hard drives, something by Seagate or Western Digital is fine but, again, check out the warranty.

 

 

3. Blank optical media is another good idea. Recordable DVDs or BluRay discs are always appreciated. Unlike external hard drives, discs are pretty much indestructible. If your friend/relative doesn’t have a BluRay writer, you can pick one up for well under $100.00. Each BluRay disc holds about 25 gigs of data, though they are a bit more expensive than a regular DVD. Better to stick to Verbatim media, from our point of view. No-name discs are a no-no.

 

4. Wireless routers are getting substantially cheaper these days. Even a basic unit can be used as an access point in some out-of-the-way place in a house or large condo. We’ve described how to set up an access point in an earlier post:  Setting up a wireless access point  Make sure the router uses at least the N protocol. The description will be on the side of the box. Prices can be as low as $20.00 for a brand name model.

 

5. Gamers love hi-tech keyboards and/or a hi-tech mouse. Check out the Maximum PC site for the latest and greatest versions. Best of the Best at Maximum PC.   Prices on gaming mice and keyboards can knock you out so be careful. We’re talking hundreds of dollars here. Make sure you buy from a vendor where returns are easy.

 

6. We’re into running and exercising here and if your friend/relative is too, we suggest something like a GPS watch or some workout apps for their smartphone. We use the MapMyRun app (free) on our phones. The pro model does a bit more in terms of timing laps, etc. and it’s relatively cheap. A basic GPS device can be had for under $100.00. GPS lets you record your route, keeping track of distance, speed and, in some cases, heart rate and calories used.  These gadgets make exercising a lot more fun, guaranteed.

 

7. For someone with a new laptop or netbook or even a tablet of some kind, a mini-mouse tends to make surfing a lot more fun. Check to see if the person has Bluetooth before you buy. Some tablets don’t have USB connectors which means only Bluetooth devices are available for use. For someone with a tablet, an external keyboard is a good idea as well. Prices can be quite low for these items, usually under $40.00 when they’re on sale. There are even some cool keyboards that fold up for travel. These are good for occasional use, not for day to day typing.

 

8. Along the same line as number 6, we’d suggest a pair of touch sensitive gloves for a geeky hiker or outdoors person. These gloves make use of a material on the tip of each finger to maintain the conductive properties needed to use a touchscreen while wearing them. If you can, make sure you get them with the material on every fingertip instead of just one or two. This makes typing a snap in cold weather.

 

 

These are some good suggestions for the geek on your list. Let us know what you’d like to receive under the tree this year. Maybe we’ll add your suggestion here.

Thanks for reading!