ResearchWhat to get your Computer Geek for Christmas
A recent study by Brookings Institution's Brown Center has concluded that people who are good with math - and by extension, are good with computer logic - are also likely to be deficient in people skills. Not too surprising, given the stereotype. Nevertheless, the technologically skilled are not really as aloof as they seem. They're just unsure of themselves socially. But it can make it tough for others to divine what they truly want. Herein, a survival guide for shopping for the nerd in your life.
The obvious one is computer hardware. But you may be surprised to discover that most geeks would just as soon get your old computer as get a new one. The machine that you've given up on because it's clogged with viruses and just not as fast as it used to be can be fixed and put back to a productive life. The socially conscious geek always looks for a way to prevent one more machine from filling our landfills. Particularly in the case of someone going for an A+ certification, they could use all the boxes to rebuild that they can get. Also the web developer can always use another machine with a different system to test web designs on for portability.
If you're just looking for a hardware upgrade for an existing computer, surveys have shown that the most popular upgrade is a bigger monitor. You almost can't go wrong, here; I've never heard somebody complain that their monitor's screen is too big or supports too many colors. You should probably steer clear of other hardware upgrades unless you're sure it can work with their system and it's something they've mentioned they want.
The most often overlooked gift idea is a book. Computer geeks read books like other people burn up hours watching television. Any geek who programs could always use the latest guide to their language, or a guide to the new language they're trying to pick up. Manuals on their operating system or an in-depth guide to their most-frequently used software application will always be welcome. Just be sure it's for their platform. ("platform" refers to what their system is, i.e. Microsoft, MacIntosh, Linux, BSD, Solaris, etc,) Hardware fiddlers will appreciate more books on electronics, engineering, and PC repair.
Going further with books, you can always scan their bookshelf and determine what they don't have. But even if they do have a title, check to see the publishing date. If it's more than five years old, they're due for a new one. Those who work in technology need to keep these manuals around for reference, and keeping an updated set is a constant challenge and expense. When in doubt, just ask them what they're working with currently, especially what new developments in technology they're exploring. Don't worry, getting your geek to talk about their work with computers is not going to be hard!
For software, again you should be sure of platform and what they use. There's usually a released upgrade for their favorite system or application floating around somewhere. As for games, be careful that it's something they like. Gamers go by genre; so video games might be action, puzzle, arcade, strategy, simulation, and so on. Just find out what titles they have already, and something from that same genre is more likely to be what they want.
I'll close with the standard geek parting line for an informative posting: HTH, HAND (Hope This Helps, Have A Nice Day)!