We all have a special geek in our lives, and during this holiday season, we have an incredible opportunity to show our appreciation for the joy they bring.
Just roll with me here, please?
So over the next week I’m going to share my recommendations for holiday gift ideas for the geeks in your life!
Today, we’re going to start with…
The Essentials!
1. iPhone 3G S
Yep. I will forever plug my favorite product on the planet because it’s basically every mobile gadget I need and more. It’s processing power is incredible, and paired with a simple, beautiful user interface, you have one sexy toy. Sure, you’re stuck with AT&T unless you’re okay with voiding the warranty and risking bricking upon OS update, but Apple’s customer service and the beautiful simplicity and utility of the phone more than compensate. It comes in 16GB and 32GB, both in black and white, with a 3.0 megapixel camera, autofocus capability, built in digital compass, incredible accessibility options, universal search and voice control. For more technical specs, check Apple’s site.
Price Range: $199-$699 (Pending Contract and Memory Capabilities)
2. Droid Eris
I like how Kevin Rose put this: I am Android curious. If I were to recommend any other phone that ISN’T an iPhone, this would be the one. Open source development, a smooth UI, reasonable price point, and not being stuck with AT&T makes this gadget a great addition to any geeks arsenal. On top of that, Google has done an incredible job of integrating their own services. Seamless transfer of your email, calendars and more (if you use Gmail and Google Apps) are a killer selling point on their own.
I actually got to play with one this weekend, and I have to say, though it took a couple minutes to get used to actually using buttons, it was really easy to adjust. You have 7 pages (I think one is defaulted as your speed dial page) and on each page you choose your app to keep open. Yep. It’s already open and ready to go. Nice, right? You don’t have to wait for it to load. Big win, if you ask me. Finally, unlike Motorola’s Droid, the Eris has multi-touch screen (an expected feature at this point) and it’s super lightweight. I played with a Droid as well and I was shocked at how heavy it is – seriously, it’s like a cold metal brick. The Eris is lightweight with a sleek design. It doesn’t have a flash on the camera, but it’s 5.0 megapixels. Pretty nice, right? I’m definitely a fan.
Price Range: $99-$469 (Pending contract)
3. iMac
Ohhhhhhhhmygod. The new iMac..
I need a second- just have to catch my breath here
Ok, we’re good. The new iMac integrates top of the line features such as dual core processing (with available quad core processors), a beautiful Backlit LED Widescreen display, a High Performance Graphics card, and it runs on Snow Leopard. It retains classic iMac features such as the built-in iSight camera (awesome for vlogging and live streaming), a FireWire port, SD card slot and 4 USB ports. Additionally, it’s a green machine, meeting Energy Star standards, and many components are made of recyclable materials. If that isn’t enough, the Magic Mouse (see below) and wireless keyboard come standard, PLUS it’s sleek design makes it a super sexy addition to any office or home.
Finally, I can’t evangelize Apple’s Customer Support enough. Their service reps, Geniuses and everyone else on the floor at the Apple Store are friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. Their technical support is unmatched by ANY computer company – seriously.
Standard features depend on size, but you can load it with a 2 TB harddrive and up to 16 GB’s of memory (again, this depends on the size). You can check Apple.com for more technical specs.
Price Range: $1199-$1999 (Standard Specs)
4. Flip Ultra HD
Beyond easy to use, compact, great battery life, and incredible customer support. Who could ask for anything more?
I have a Flip Mino HD (because I wanted to customize it) and though it’s been put to great use, I have a twinge of regret for jumping the gun on it. The next gens are rumored to include WiFi and YouTube uploading capabilities, BUT as of right now those are rumors.
Price Range: $199-$229
5. Nikon CoolPix S70
A goodie on my wishlist, desirable because I have a thing for touch screens and I’m a little bit over the lack of flash on my iPhone. Nikon’s CoolPix line has a great variety of point & shoots for anyone’s needs. I like the S70 in particular for it’s resolution (12.1 megapixels), large OLED display (3.5 inches) and HD video recording. It also comes in a few different colors (I like Champagne & Beige or Champagne & Light Brown myself… hint hint) and charges via USB. You can find more specs at Nikon’s Coolpix site.
Price Range: $299-399 (Depending on where you buy it)
6. Magic Mouse
The world’s first multi-touch mouse (yet another incredible Apple innovation). To sum it up simply, it’s an ergonomic trackpad, allowing you to click, double click, drag and swipe through pages all from your fingertips alone. It is wireless, connecting via Bluetooth and uses laser tracking, instead of the standard mouse’s optical tracking. It’s incredibly responsive, beautifully sleek, energy efficient and it feels great in the hand.
Price: $69
7. An Awesome Laptop Bag
I had a really really hard time deciding on just one, so here are a few:
Belkin’s Messenger Bag
Friendly for both the ladies and gents, this well padded, adjustable strap messenger bag holds up to a 17″ laptop. It’s plush lined, has compartments for the items you use the most, and a removable pouch for your power cable and cords.
Price: $49-$59
UrbanJunket’s T.O.T.E. Laptop Bag
Feminine and functional, this bag includes some great organizational features including a removable clutch, laptop compartment, and standard item compartments. My favorite feature? The 2 removable straps that allow you to carry the bag as a messenger bag or as a backpack. It comes in many colors (Ecru, Violet, Indigo, Scarlet, Magenta, Grass, Chocolate, and Black) and it’s built with eco-friendly materials. A win all around!
Price: $120-$143
ZAUM’s Portabile Line
Incredibly chic and urbane, these handmade bags are built specifically for the size of your laptop. This bag stands out from the crowd with compartments especially for your gadgets and gear and a unique design. Because they are handmade, however, they are very limited in quantity..
Price: $170
8. Blue Microphone’s Snowflake or Yeti
If you do audio recording of any sort, whether it’s podcasting, vlogging, video production or livecasting, a great microphone is absolutely crucial. Blue Microphones are top of the line and at $69-$149, you really can’t go wrong. My 2 choices are both USB mics.
Snowflake:
The basic, classic choice for a single person recording, optimal for podcasting and narration. Snowflake uses a cardioid pattern (basically, it picks up sound from the source directly in front of it, but it won’t pick up as much sound from the sides and rear of the mic).
Price: $69
Yeti:
This mic does everything. You can change the pattern settings to better pick up based on the type of recording you’re trying to make. From solos to full choirs, the Yeti is an incredible choice for recording music, interviews, podcasts, conference calls and more.
Price: $149
9. Peet’s Coffee
What geek do you know that doesn’t love coffee? Give the gift of the highest quality caffeine and share the joy with the monthly coffee tour. There are a few different options, so shop around. My recommendation? The 12 month Classic Tasting Tour ($159). It’s 1 pound per month of Peet’s most popular blends and roasts for an entire year of caffeine-laced love.
Price Range: $41-$299
10. Coffee Warmer
While we’re on coffee.. I actually just got a killer little coffee warmer for $8 (yay Black Friday deals!) at Target. I haven’t been able to find it online, but my secondary recommendation is the Mr. Coffee Beverage Warmer. If it is anything like mine, it is a simple heating plate that keeps your ceramic mug and it’s contents warm for hours. Additionally, if it’s lukewarm, no worries – the plate warms it up beautifully!
Price Range: $9.99-$12.99
So that’s it for the essentials! Stay tuned for my favorite mobile & smartphone accessories, workspace necessities and super fun geek toys.
P.S. What’s on your wishlist?
It was a lot of fun reading your ultimate holiday gifting guide… I particularly like the iMac and the Coffee Warmer, they’re definitely on my wishlist! :)