The Triangle

Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Sci-Tech
Originally published: 12/3/04 at 4:00 AM EST
Last update: 12/3/04 at 10:52 AM EST

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Media Credit: thinkgeek.com [Click to enlarge]

It's that time of year again. Best Buy has installed a maze in front of the checkout, and credit card debt is going through the roof. Finding the right holiday gifts for all the important and semi-important people in one's life can be a frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming task. Now, consider the geek in your life. Just about everybody has one or several floating around. What kind of gift is going to warm the cockles of his or her heart this holiday season? Here are some cheap and not-so-cheap gift ideas for your "sci-tech" (geek) friend ...

Keepin' It Clean - With his or her fanny being planted permanently in front of a glowing computer monitor, your friend might need a little mechanized help to keep their dimly lit domicile clean. Consider the iRobot Roomba ($149-$250) for this slovenly individual. The Roomba is a self programming, self-propelled robot vacuum cleaner bound to scare the crap out of any pet, and keep the floors somewhat presentable.

Shudder fly - Digital cameras have been a popular gift the last few years and will continue to be, as image enhancing technologies are developed and prices continue to drop and the devices surge into the mainstream. You can procure a decent camera for under $100, but the sky is the limit when it comes to the more advanced models. Consider reading some reviews at Steve's Digicams (www.steves-digicams.com) prior to purchase.

USB Drives - Whether they choose to call them Jump-, Thumb-, Pocket-, or Flash- drives, if they do not have one, they want one, and if they have one, they want a bigger one. These portable storage devices come from a variety of manufacturers with an even wider variety of styles, sizes, and prices. While each has a gimmick of some kind, they're all really the same, and if you shop around you can find some incredible deals ($9.99 and up).

Speaking of Storage - DVD burners are getting cheaper every day ($59.00 - $149.00). If they're not already pirating everything Hollywood has to offer, it's probably because they haven't had a friend thoughtful enough to gift them one of these. When selecting a DVD burner, however, make sure to pick one out that supports a variety of media formats. Drives from Plextor, LG, Sony, and other major manufacturers are a good bet. If they already have a DVD Burner, go ahead and pick them up some media, but be sure to check what their format of choice is (DVD+R, DVD-R, etc.) prior to purchasing.

Audiophile - CDs are for losers, digital music from online music retailers is the way of the future. Help your MP3 crazed geek go legit with a gift certificate to an online music store like iTunes (www.itunes.com), Napster (www.napster.com), or Rhapsody (www.rhapsody.com). If they already purchase music online, be sure to confirm which store they prefer. Certificates can be purchased in a variety of denominations, and allow the recipient of your gift to select his or her own music. These are good "last minute" gifts as they can be purchased and printed online.

Portable Audiophile - Along with CDs, walkmans and discmans are out and portable MP3 players are in. While an iPod may set you back, there are a number of other players available for much less bank. Some less flashy players can be had for $80 or less. If your friend already lives and dies by their iPod, consider buying them an accessory like an iTrip, iTalk, In-Ear headphones, or a carrying case.

Movie Buff - DVDs are cheap, real cheap. This is especially true if you shop at the right places and look for the best deals. You don't even have to buy the double awesome super special limited edition box set of their favorite sci-fi/fantasy trilogy (though it wouldn't hurt). Consider some classics from their youth - movies that may not have been the best films ever made but have some important sentimental value. Films like Labyrinth, Willow, Lost Boys, The Princess Bride, The Goonies, and The NeverEnding Story are winners - ok, maybe that's just me. You get the idea.

Movies by Mail - Netflix (www.netflix.com) offers a great solution to the lack of video rental stores in University City. With a recent drop in subscription price, Netflix gift subscriptions can now be purchased for $17.99 for 1 month and incremental amounts of time, up to a year, for $215.88. As your friend becomes addicted to the service, they may curse you when they cannot help but re-up their subscription on their own dollar. Have a gamer? Consider a gift-certificate to GameFly (www.gamefly.com).

The Gamer - Most hardcore gamers need several different console systems to keep up with the latest titles. Consider an additional console or hardware accessory for the XBOX or Playstation 2 they already own and worship - perhaps an extra controller so that maybe they'll let you play. Gamers always appreciate a new game which can cost between $9.99 - $59.99, depending on title. Consider a multiplayer title that you can play together, and you may just begin to understand their interest in gaming. Before purchasing any game, make sure you know which platform - Xbox, Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC, etc - they prefer.

Go Retro - Just as with DVD movies, retro games can be a nice thoughtful gift. You can pickup a used Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis, Super NES, along with controllers and accessories with a handful of classic game titles for under $50 at a local GameStop or on eBay. Mention Contra to them. If they say, "Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-B-A-Select-Start," this gift idea is for you.

Thinkgeek.com - If you don't like any of the ideas already mentioned, then head over to Thinkgeek, where you're bound to find some item that will bring a smile to your geek's face. Whether it's caffeinated soap, a w00t! t-shirt, or a tux poster, Thinkgeek will supply you with a number of gift ideas.

You may or may not entertain the gift ideas I've outlined here, but one thing you may want to consider this holiday season is online shopping. Not only will online gift buying save you time, but it can save you money.

Think of the time you spend driving to and from the mall, the frustration of standing in line with a child screaming at their parent to purchase him or her some cheap piece of plastic ... long lines, low inventory, and the music - OH, THE MUSIC! This can all be done away with as you shop in the comfort of your own home. For online holiday shopping to be effective, however, it's important to get your orders in early to allow enough time for shipment. Better still, you can order your gifts from campus and have them shipped home.

Shopping around for the best prices is also much easier online. Rather than looking around at a few local stores, you can now search for the best prices available anywhere in the world, though more practically in the US. There are even websites that specialize in finding the best prices for consumers - mySimon (www.mySimon.com), Froogle (www.froogle.com), and PriceWatch (www.pricewatch.com). Consider utilizing these resources to help drive down holiday gift buying cost. Even with shipping, the deals you'll find online can save you money at checkout.

If you use one of the larger e-retail sites like Amazon (www.amazon.com), your friends may already have holiday "wish lists" stored for you to peruse, thereby eliminating all guesswork.

Hopefully some of these ideas and suggestions will be of use to you during the insane gift buying holiday season. Maybe this year you will actually convince yourself that it is all about the giving and not the receiving.

Paul Corkery is a BS/MS student in information systems.

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