Tech Gifts for the Holidays 245
MrCopilot pointed out that every year there are a slew of gadgets geeks desire for Christmas, and approximately 7 million web pages dedicated to compiling lists of them.
So why shouldn't we join in the fun. Here are stories from
Dallas News,
CBS News,
Seattle Times,
E Media Wire,
Detroit News and
MSNBC. So lets take a crack at your own list. There's still another day or two where things could conceivably be shipped on time for the holidays. I highly recommend Rock Band, although my aching hands might disagree.
Some of us are celebrating festivus (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Some of us are celebrating festivus (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Some of us are celebrating festivus (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Some of us are celebrating festivus (Score:5, Funny)
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Tell everyone it's a stripper pole, and not a Festivus pole, and you're more likely to win.
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We get a lot of questions about it.
Not really tech gifts... (Score:3, Funny)
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Those are not too useful at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, they don't go well in ice, snow and below 0 temperatures.
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No, I don't work for them, own stock or anything...
Almost anything from ThinkGeek (Score:5, Funny)
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My Pick for geek toy... CyBook Gen3! (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.bookeen.com/ebook/ebook-reading-device.aspx [bookeen.com]
The only thing that could make this thing cooler is a wifi connection.
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Re:My Pick for geek toy... CyBook Gen3! (Score:4, Interesting)
A paperback book with 1MB hardly fits in a pocket and is maybe 6h of reading for an average reader. A 1GB SD card is easily months of reading, pluggable into a device that is the size of the 1MB book - and thanks to the e-paper, the batteries won't die on you while you read and the readablity will be just like with a paper book.
Imagine you want to read the whole Pratchett's Discworld series on your daily way to work, 1h each direction, on a train daily. You either go to a bookstore and (with lots of luck if it's all in stock) buy some 10 pounds of paper, then remember to take one part for your travel, or two if you're about to finish the 'current' one. You pay a small fortune.
Or you rent them at a library. Good luck getting them all, good luck getting them in parts and none of the parts missing, you're bound by return schedules and you need to go to said library.
Or you visit piratebay and download the whole series in ebook format, then read it on your pocket reader. Cost: zero. You have them all, no management. You read on your own schedule. They fit on one tiny card. And so on... And if you feel like the author deserves the money, you buy the DRM'd versions from Amazon and promptly delete them, or just buy the paper version and put them on a shelf in your house, never opening them.
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As for using the e-readers, they work if you're on the go a lot, and don't have room for a library. However, I'm sticking with dead trees for a few reasons...
If I'm not sure which book I feel like reading, I can scan entire bookshelves in a glance. No time needed for indexing, just a quick look is necessary. If I want to lend/give someone a good book, I don't have to buy 'em a reader. No batteries needed. There's also very little chance that my books will scramble due to file corruption....
{...and a final
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OTOH if you want to read a specific book, and you have more than one bookshelf, finding it can be a bitch. If you have much more than one bookshelf, it can be a REAL bitch.
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If everyone had your mentality soon there would be no more books published. Way to go man.
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It does get a little more complicated in that there is some time spent in laying out an ebook, ev
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Well, first and foremost: the pocket reader has a non-zero cost. And I don't know about Discworld, but most books are not free (as in beer) to download legally, which makes the "Cost: zero" argument just as valid for dead tree books which you also can obtain illegally for "Cost: zero".
The best argument against books from dead trees is that they're, well, dead trees. But they look good in
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I'm offered a choice between a sub-par, restricted, limited, crippled version of something for $MUCH and the same thing without these flaws for $NONE.
I'm ready to pay the $MUCH for the unrestricted version. I don't want the restricted version, its price being moot.
So where's the evil of grabbing the 'open' version of the books from torrent, buying the same books in DRM format, then just never u
Re:My Pick for geek toy... CyBook Gen3! (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:My Pick for geek toy... CyBook Gen3! (Score:4, Funny)
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"An e-book reader is not really any more convenient to carry around than a paperback book... The only real advantage is the ability to carry around your entire library with you."
Re:My Pick for geek toy... CyBook Gen3! (Score:4, Insightful)
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If I go on a business trip across the country, I can burn through 2-3 books on the flights. I'll usually do the same if I go on vacation somewhere.
If you read at home, or you read fairly slowly or infrequently, you're right. There are a lot of people who read predominantly while traveling, however, and an e-book is perfect for that.
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Until it is capable of reading PDF files in a decent way (the test being able to read an issue of SDTimes or a full-page newspaper without conversion), it is less than perfect.
the perfect one would have auto-searching and indexing and full support for PDFs, Office and OpenOffice files and would behave both as a printer (close to zero config) and as USB disk drive.
When that comes, I will be happy. Until then... Just a maybe. It's a cool gadget, but no revolution. Not ju
Hand-Brain coordination (Score:5, Funny)
I gave him a slide rule.
Re:Hand-Brain coordination (Score:5, Funny)
Buy him some Playboys, but cut the naughty bits out of all the pictures.
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Worst. Christmas. Gift. Ever.
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Of course, in second year, I got a TI SR-52, which they thought was even cooler because it could do polar-rectangular conversions in my choice of degrees or radians. Everyone wanted me in their study group.
I highly recommend Rock Band, although my aching h (Score:2)
Why does it always have to be joes about masturbation on this site?
Damnit!
Ohh...wait....nevermind.
Annoy-a-tron (Score:2)
It's should be right up there in whatever pantheon includes the Joy Buzzer, the Dribble Glass, and the Whoopee Cushion. As Mad Magazine once said: "Fool your friends! Be popular!"
(And just imagine the big laffs you could have bringing one of these to an airport and surreptitiously slipping it into your pal's carry-on luggage... that should get either your pal or you onto the No-Fly list quicker than you can say "Jack Gilmore!")
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I don't even think they have wood shop anymore.
Please don't turn /. into digg. (Score:5, Insightful)
Please don't turn
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What the hell is with these top-* lists?
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Good question: I tried to ask "What were the best books, movies, games, and media released in 2007?" The question might yield somewhat meaningful results, and I'd been thinking about the issue after seeing the NYTimes' best books [wordpress.com].
Instead, the submission was rejected in favor of one discussing consumer electronic junk.
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Yeah, that and the each day more common 13 year old comments that are appearing in slashdot.
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Opening for The Simpsons (Score:2)
Rock Band - 58 Song Set List (Score:2)
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Asus EEE PC (Score:4, Interesting)
The thing is hardly bigger than a DS. It can fit in women's handbags. Glove compartments.
And yes it runs linux, it comes runs linux out of the box.
Mine will double as a casual laptop and as a remote for my TV which will be using my computer as a source(via logmein).
I can see both women and men loving this thing. $400 bucks or so.
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I'd love to see more UMPC manufacturers hop on the Linux train. I'm not talking about ARM-based devices, rather Intel/AMD compatible UMPCs that are capable of running full distributions.
I personally have a Pepper Pad 3 and LOVE that form factor, but would like to see a bit more modern hardware (much like the Samsung Q1 Ultra).
CHEAP ebook readers? (Score:4, Interesting)
It would be good if it was pocket-sized too.
What would you recommend?
Re:CHEAP ebook readers? (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.teleread.org/blog/2005/06/02/the-12-e-book-reader/ [teleread.org]
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1. Low puchase cost
2. Best in class - by far - battery life
3. Best in class - by far - display resolution
4. Lightweight
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Getting over it.
You may already own it (Score:2)
I have read literally dozens of eBooks on my two Treos (formerly a 650 and now a 700p). The palm OS versions of the Treo have 320x320 screens, which makes the text crisp and clear. The responsive color screen is bright with adjustable backlighting...and the SD card slot allows you to store hundreds of books easily. Whether I am at home in bed with the wife or in the bunkroom at the fire station, the fol
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If one were to take your advice, what models would be the ones to look for?
New monitor (Score:2, Interesting)
For the gamers (Score:3, Interesting)
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Btw, a coworker threw a little "Rock Band" get-together this weekend, and I have to say that it was the most fun I had playing a video game in a very long time. If you play Rock Band with the right people (the ones who aren't afraid to mangle the vocals of well-k
flamebait or troll? (Score:2)
I always get those two confused. Anyway...
Anything you can reccomend for the average /. reader? (I keed.)
Anyway, geekish items on my wish list include the retro bluetooth handset from ThinkGeek, a Power Squid, "The Four Pillars of Geometry", and the Gojira 2-DVD set with the original Japan release. And of course the 2008 Despair calendar for my cube.
Re:For the gamers (Score:5, Funny)
How can you say that either game is "more awesome" than the other?
You just say it. It helps if you actually have that opinion, but it's not really necessary.
You're comparing apples and oranges.
Apples are better than oranges. Oranges are too sugary and the non-juice parts of the orange are more-or-less pointless. Oranges are really a drink, whereas apples are a food. And, as a drink, oranges are too sugary and don't contain adequate caffeine. When apples are made into a drink, they're actually worse than orange juice though.
You also have to buy the good apples. Discount apples have little taste.
I would recommend Rock Band to anyone with more than two friends.
Does God count as a friend?
Where are MS products ? (Score:3, Funny)
Where are Vista, Zune 2 ? XBox360 ? (admittedly, more of a fit for past year lists)
Tech-gifts lists confirm it : MS is dying
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"fuck you dad..."
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Pretty high prices (Score:5, Insightful)
At least some of these lists are surprisingly decent - the Dallas and Detroit ones are actually pretty reasonable - accessories for your friends and family that already bought their gadgets. Now those make good gift items.
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...or even a $400 iPhone this holiday season. I swear these lists must be created by retailers or someone trying to convince you that you have to go all out and spend all your savings. every Christmas
Assuming the savings is for retirement instead of a short term goal, e.g. the holiday season.....
First, I'm not advocating anyone spend this much on gifts or that they spend all their savings every year end holiday season. Second, you aren't saving enough for whatever you are saving for if you choose, instead of continuing to save, to buy a $400 iPhone that empties your savings. Even if the other two gifts mentioned are added, you still aren't saving enough if all together they empty your savings.
I'm no
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Cell phones. The gift that keeps on taking.
Rock Band? (Score:4, Insightful)
Get off my lawn.
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Also, I have a very good friend who is an amazing blues guitarist and I've tried to learn from him, but like Fry from Futurama, I mu
Re:Rock Band? (Score:5, Insightful)
Heaven forbid we actually encourage a real-life artistic skill.
Skill takes practice. Get 'em an electric guitar... with an ear monitor.
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Guitar Hero has given him an understanding of the structures and tempos of modern rock music that he can apply to his real guitar. I see no harm in that.
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Guitar Hero has given him an understanding of the structures and tempos of modern rock music that he can apply to his real guitar. I see no harm in that.
No argument here. I had a friend that took dance when he was younger 'n' swore it set the stage for his drumming ability later. Gotta admit, he's one of the better drummers in town.
My original point was that ALL musicians generally suck when they first pick up their instrument, prodigies aside. The OP griping about the "noise" obviously never was a band geek....
My list (Score:5, Interesting)
Chaos tower [chaostoy.com]
Just remember to give thanks (Score:2)
And remember to give thanks for being alive in (what is likely for you) the most affluent country on the planet in the most period in human history.
Engadget Has... (Score:4, Informative)
I think they're still working on one or two more. Not sure.
Another geek gift list (Score:2, Informative)
The Linked List (Score:2)
Nokia N810, EEEeeeee pc (Score:2)
1. Eeeeee pc
2. ?
9. ?
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Go green, skip the gadgets (Score:5, Insightful)
2. Replace batteries
3. Watch it break down
4. Attempt to fix
5. ???
6. Profit (for the person who sold it)
7. Massive unrecycled waste (your gift to planet earth)
Good ideas: plants, books, tools, Slashdot membership, backrubs, fruit, nuts, candy wrapped in paper.
This holiday is about loving your family, go be with them, instead of working extra hours to buy them plastic crap you won't even remember in two years!
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You are killing the trees, you bastard!!
In all seriousness, I think the BEST gift you can give to someone this (and every other) christmass is TIME. Really give them some of your time, talk with them, instead of wasting those 30 minutes looking for some useless gift, invite them a juice/coffee/pint/tequila/ or some food and just talk with them. Go out to do something together (no, cinema does not count, and is overrated
This holiday is about loving your family, go be w
oh boy. another list! (Score:3, Interesting)
Alternative choices after the jump.
Forgot the SL folks, eh? M2's Tech list (Score:2)
For people who might like to take pictures: (Score:2)
Or, if someone already has a decent camera:
Raynox DCR-150 4.8-diopter closeup adapter: for $30, and combined with the above camera or many others (anything with a long optical zoom), you can count the hairs on a bee's little toe. I got one of these
Wii Wins (Score:3, Informative)
Oh yeah, me too! (Score:2)
Nokia N810 Recommendation Retraction (Score:2)
The geek gift lists aren't hardcore geek enough (Score:3, Interesting)
Second point - none of the geek gift guides I've seen are hardcore geek enough. I'd love to hear other similar ideas (because I've got these two already), but...
Item #1: a Symbol CS1504 handheld barcode scanner (around $100). No significant instructions included or software beyond drivers, and it comes in a plain brown box. It's the size of keyfob car remotes and has memory so you scan stuff then hook it up to your computer later and download what it scanned - once you write the software to do that of course. Kept me entertained for months and now I've written Java code to support it and lookup UPS and ISBN codes.
Item #2: The Pickit2 starter kit from Microchip ($50 direct). Nothing says geek more than programming little extremely cheap microprocessors in assembly language to flash LEDs in sequence. This kit gives you everything you need to get you started in doing just that, and is a gateway gift for future geek paraphernalia like breadboards and electronic parts - nobody else will have a clue what all that stuff is, but at least it's all pretty cheap. Throw in a subscription to "Nuts and Volts" magazine and he'll have geek pr0n all year long. If you play your cards right next year you'll have all sorts of blinky geek ornaments to hang on the tree.
Both of these gift ideas have an extremely high geek fun to price ratio. What I'm looking for is other ideas like this.
Re:My greatest gift... (Score:4, Funny)
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I started the "*BSD is dead" thing you know.
We know, AC. You're responsible for all the evil posts and memes around here. Here's a song for you:
"Sympathy for the AC"
Please allow me to introduce myself/ I'm a man who's crass and vile.
Ive been around for over 10 long years/ Hijacked many a story's forum.
And I was round when Cmdr Taco/ Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that the GNAA/ Put ASCII Goatse in every post
Pleased to meet you/Hope you guess my name/But whats puzzling you,/Is the
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Disgruntled Oracle employee.... (Score:3, Funny)