Okay Shoppers... I know what's troubling you. You just spent a deliriously happy "Black Friday" malling yourself into a spending stupor and have just recovered from a consumerism hangover. And through your foggy haze you realize that you bought gifts for EVERYONE except that one PC geek on your list. We all know a couple and can never figure out what to get them. Well, have no fear - I can help. Here's a few suggestions on what to get your favorite digital deviant...
Gadgets - This just goes without saying. Absolutely anything will fit here. Desktop toys, Styrofoam dart guns, hardware for their PC's, and anything that beeps, whistles and flashes. A few good ideas would be a Web-Cam (Just make sure that his PC has a USB port, Parallel formats can be hard to find and cumbersome to install), a Palm Pilot or other PDA (If you have the cash and the desire to go all out), one of those Animated M&M dispensers (See food), or even a Laser Pointer. Don't ask me WHAT he'd do with it, just trust me on this.
Books - Tough call here. The stereotypical PC geek would be interested in all manner of Science Fiction, or fantasy books. Comic books are also good. Trouble is, I work with an awful lot of these guys and not many of them are what you'd call BIG readers. My suggestion - the User Friendly compilation by Iliad. User Friendly is a Dilbert-type comic strip aimed at the Data Community. And don't worry if you don't get some of the jokes - he will and he'll love you for it. And it's easy to find... just order it thru the web-site at www.userfriendly.org. And if my wife and Mom are reading, this is what I want...
Clothes - Okay, now if you ask him, he'll say that his clothes are fine but let's face it: anyone stuck at a terminal banging out code all day or dealing with irate Customer Service calls from people who can barely turn on a PC does not have clothing as that high a priority. Chances are his wardrobe consists of a bunch of T-Shirts and polos given to him by vendors at work or picked up at the last trade show, paired with two or three pairs of jeans or Dockers. So a little bit of fashion sense from an outside source couldn't hurt. Besides, it'll extend the amount of time between laundry loads and he'll like that...
Food - Okay, this one is a no brainer. Geeks are junk food junkies, so the key here is to avoid anything that sounds remotely healthy. Chocolate is always good, as are Oreos, caramel corn, chips and everything in between. Something unusual is even better, like say chocolate covered caramel corn (Trust me - it's DELICIOUS!) Coffee is also another good choice, because let's face it - our bodies thrive on caffeine. To get the best of everything, try a cool coffee mug filled with chocolate covered espresso beans. Just don't be around after he eats them. A wired techie is NOT a pretty sight.
Video - The emphasis here is on Sci-Fi and Horror. Anything with cool special effects, half-naked women, and lots of blood is good. Also the classics (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.) are always a safe bet, assuming he doesn't already have them. Other definites are TV collections, like Babylon Five, any of the Trek series, or my personal fave KOLCHAK: The Night stalker. Dig a little bit, find out what he's into and what he needs, and you'll get free tech support out of him for months.
Booze - Okay, it used to be that techies weren't big drinkers. Such is no longer the case. Most of the ones I know enjoy a good beer now and then, the more expensive the better. Just steer clear of some of the standard domestics and imports. Some of the more unique micro-brews or European styles will definitely impress him. As for more potent potables, stick towards whiskeys. Scotch is good, but don't mess with the blends. Get a nice single malt, aged at least 10-12 years.
Cigars - It's a trend everywhere, and we geeks are not immune. A few nice cigars will always get a smile. And there are so many other toys that go with them! Try a nice humidor, or travel case with a cutter. And lighters! You cannot imagine the variety of lighters available today. My suggestion - a decent micro-torch (they range in price from 10 bucks for a knock-off to $75.00 for the higher end models) will definitely light his fire.
Software - Okay, this is a really hard topic. See, most computer guys have at LEAST a half dozen avenues for getting un-licensed copies of software, so they rarely buy any themselves. But this can be used to YOUR advantage. Giving them a REAL copy of something will introduce them to the joys of using a program without CONSTANTLY dealing with the dialog boxes begging them to register, or the functions that are crippled until you buy a license. And games are always good, especially ones they can play over a network. My sources tell me the hot title now is Age of Empires II. Just be prepared for him to disappear with it for about a month...
There you go - a quick list to stuff the stocking of your favorite digi-rati. Just stick to these suggestions and it should be a very Merry Christmas for the both of you.