75 Web Sites Offering Gifts that Give Back
Sorted according to cause/source that benefits.
Animal Rescue & Wildlife
- The Animal Rescue Site
- Art for the Animals
- Hooray for the Underdog
- World Wildlife Foundation Gift Center
Fair Trade/Co-Op Chocolate
Fair Trade/Co-Op – Coffee
- Alakef Coffee Roasters
- BuyWell
- Cafe Campesino
- Cafe Justo
- Cafe Mam
- Counter Culture Coffee
- Dean’s Beans
- Invalsa
- JustCoffee.coop
- Grounds for Change
- Handcrafting Justice
- Higher Grounds Trading Co.
- Larry’s Beans
- Nectar of Life
- New Harvest Coffee Roasters
- Partners for Just Trade
- Planet One Gifts
- Pura Vida Coffee
- ReJAVAnate Reusable Bags
Fair Trade/Co-Op – Clothes, Accessories and Home Goods
- Andes Crafts
- Autonomie Project
- Bamboula Ltd.
- Blue People Fair Trade
- Build a Nest
- Craft Network
- Etica Fair Trade
- Exotic World Gifts
- Gifts with Humanity
- Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store
- Global Girlfriend
- Global Goods Partners
- Global Handcrafters
- Made in Armenia
- OriginalGood.com
- Pachacuti
- People of Hope Crafts
- Shanti Boutique
- SERRV
- Ten Thousand Villages
- Tesoros Trading Co.
- Thai Craft Warehouse
- Trade Expressions
- Village Markets of Africa
- Women’s Bean Project
- Women’s Peace Collection
- World Shoppe
Fair Trade/Co-Op – Sports
Fair Trade/Co-Op – Toys
Fair Trade/Co-Op – Wine
Hurricane Katrina
Poverty and Hunger
Literacy
- At First Sight Braille Jewelry (Braille Literacy)
- The Literacy Site
Medical and Health
Miscellaneous
- BeautywithaCause – a different cause every month
The Anti-Gift Guide: What NOT to Get Geeks
Last week, we offered up a gift guide for geeks that aimed to leave out some of the quirky and not-truly-wanted gifts. This week, we’re giving you the DO NOT BUY list. These are things that make it on to Geek Gift Guides and geek products sites across the web, but aren’t really such a great idea.
Cufflinks
Most geeks hate to dress up and the only time you wear cufflinks is when you’re getting totally souped up for a uber-fancy event. I don’t care if the cufflinks feature a piece of code or some Star Trek symbol – they make crappy gifts for a true geek.
Ties
Same explanation as the cufflinks. So what if that tie looks like it came from The Matrix? Buy The Matrix (the first one only – not the entire Trilogy) on Blu-Ray instead.
Binary Clocks
Just. No.
Cheap Tech Gadgets/Accessories
You may see a good deal on some earbuds, computer keyboards or other tech accessories. But when it comes to tech gadgets and accessories, you generally get what you pay for. A true geek would rather have one really great gadget than a bunch of cheap ones.
WiFi Detectors
If your geek needs Wifi, the device s/he wants to use the Wifi on will detect whether or not there is, in fact, Wifi available.
Any HD product in 720p
If you’re going to get a geek something in HD – make sure it’s 1080p. You don’t have to understand it – you just have to do it.
GPS Devices
Most mobile phones are offering features and applications that do the same or close enough to the same thing as a GPS Device. The only exception here is if you’re geek is into geo-caching. Then just make sure you know exactly what type of GPS device your geek is salivating over.
Mobile Phones
This is a tempting gift because new mobile phones come out all the time and geeks generally love gadgets. But don’t fall into this trap. Your geek knows which phones s/he likes. If your geek has an iPhone, s/he is no doubt frustrated with things like dropped calls. That doesn’t mean they want a replacement. They probably still love the device.
Laptops
This is the holy grail of geek-dom. Do NOT attempt to buy a geek a laptop – EVER. Unless you know the EXACT specifications that your loved geek one wants. You may think all geeks want a MacBook Pro – but your specific brand of geek may be a Linux junkie. If you have no idea what that last sentence meant – banish all considerations of laptops as a gift from your mind permanently.
17 Gifts Geeks REALLY Want for Christmas
Every year, I peruse geek gift guides in search of gift ideas for my husband. Most lists don’t seem to have a good grasp of what geeks really want. For example, I don’t know too many geeks that truly want a freakin’ binary clock. Yet, it’s always included on the holiday geek gift lists.
So, I’ve set out to create the ultimate geek gift guide. I know that not all geeks are the same. But the following gifts are ones that you’d have a hard time going wrong with. We start off in expensive fantasy land and end with stocking stuffers. Happy shopping.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera
Captures both still photographs and video footage. Even Saturday Night Live has been using this (and the 7D) to shoot some of its programming.
Available at Amazon, B&H Photo, Best Buy and the like for around $2700. That’s just for the camera body. You’ll need to shell out more for the lenses. Yeah, I know, dreamland. Do not, I repeat, do not get this and leave your geek lens-less.
LG LED-LCD TV
Your geek probably has an HDTV, but they probably won’t mind replacing it with an LED-LCD HDTV from LG. This baby is super-thin and features an 2 million-to-one dynamic constrast ratio (yes, that’s good). You’ll get a 24p Real Cinema mode and a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio (yes, still good). It has a USB port, is ENERGY STAR qualified. The features go on and on.
Available at Best Buy. Starts at $1999 for 47″
Crucial M225 2.5″ Solid-State Drive, 256GB
This will make your geek’s computer super-fast, which will make them super happy. Unlike the hard drive that came with your geek’s computer, a solid-state drive has no moving parts, making it quieter, cooler, and more durable.
Available at Crucial.com for $799
Drobo
Drobo is a hard-drive system that backs up data on computers. This is great for storing media files and protecting digital photos. If the computer crashes, the files are safe. Just know this thing has won a ton of awards and accolades from very techie people. Options start at $399.
Available at the online Drobo Store.
Anything from Bose
From noise-canceling headphones to earbuds to the SoundDock portable digital music system, you can’t go wrong giving a Bose gift to a geek. Bose offers amazing sound quality, the perfect way for geeks to listen to music or podcasts while they’re working or hobbying.
Available from major retailers such as Target and Amazon – as well as Bose’s online store. Products begin at $99.
Apple TV
This little box will allow your geek to purchase movies and TV shows without all the clutter of DVD cases sitting around. Plus, the Apple TV streams podcasts, can connect with iTunes and play music easily through your home entertainment system. It can be controlled with the free Remote App on the iPhone or iPod Touch, as well.
Available at the Apple Store for $229.
Media Players
These are similar to the Apple TV, but without the iTunes. Many of them are much more affordable, with some starting at $99. Basically, these media players will play the video, audio, etc. from your computer on your television and through your home entertainment audio system.
Available at electronics retailers.
Blu-ray Player
If you’re geek doesn’t make a whole lotta dough, s/he may have been putting off buying a Blu-ray player until the prices dropped. Now, you can find them for as low as $128 for a Magnovox at Walmart and $119 for a JVC (factory refurbished) at Best Buy. If you’re willing to brave the crowds the day after Christmas, Walmart is dropping the price on that Magnavox to $78.
Available at any place or site that sells electronics.
e-Reader
e-Readers are devices specifically designed to read books electronically. The screen is specially designed to reduce glare, which makes reading electronic books far more delightful than reading them on most laptops or mobile phones. However, you need to be diligent if you want to buy this for your geek. It’s up in the air whether two of the most anticipated e-Readers, Barnes and Noble’s new Nook and Sony’s New Daily Edition Reader, will be available in time. If they are, you’ll need to act quick when they do become available since there’s so much interest in the devices. If your geek prefers a Kindle or one of the existing Sony device, you’ll have some more leeway, as they’re available right now.
Gift Cards
Get your geek a gift card s/he can actually use on Christmas day. For example, an Amazon.com gift card can be used anytime. Your geek can be downloading mp3s, movies, e-books and using them on Christmas day. You can even buy an electronic gift card, which arrives in their email. If you can’t arrange for which day the e-card is sent, simply buy it on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. iTunes gift cards are another great idea – just be sure your geek uses an Apple product such as an iPhone or iPod.
Available at online retailers.
Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch Fun Small Tablet
This tablet allows both finger and pen gestures and can act as a touchpad for both desktops and laptops. It’s great for writing by hand or creating art in a digital manner. But it can be used to navigate, browse, scroll, and zoom. Be sure to ge the Pen and Touch Tablet. Wacom sells pen-only tablets, but they’re not as versatile.
Available at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Wacom eStore for $99 (pssst. at the time of this post, Amazon was having a sale on this item).
Callpod Chargepod
Chances are your geek has a bunch of gadgets, and those gadgets need charging. Make it easier to refuel those batteries with the Chargepod. Your geek can charge his/her digital camera, mobile phone, and personal gaming devices all at the same time.
Available from Amazon for $99.95 (on sale at the time of this post for just $29.95)
Sodastream Jet Starter Kit
Geeks live on caffeine. They code with one hand and hold a caffeinated beverage in the other. Let them hack their own soda concoctions with this nifty soda making gadget.
Available from Amazon for $99.95 (on sale at the time of this post for just $79).
Handstands Original Sticky Pad
The Sticky Pad is designed to prevent devices from slipping. It’s great in the car or on the desk at work. Just place your mobile phone or mp3 player on it and it stays. No glue or anything permanent.
Available at Amazon.com for $8.99.
USB Keyboard Vacuum
This is a handy way to keep a computer keyboard clean. It’s amazing how easily they pick up food crumbs, dust, hair, etc. This little handy device is powered by the computer’s USB port and helps maintain one of your geek’s most prized possessions.
Available at The Container Store for $4.99.
Mountain Dew Fridge Pack
Frugal geeks understand that their loved ones have a hard time at Christmas. They drool over high-priced televisions and gadgets that just aren’t practical without saving up for months at a time or maxing out the credit card. Thankfully, most geeks are low-maintenance realists. They do know how to enjoy the simple things in life. Stock up on their favorite caffeinated beverage and it at least saves them a trip to the grocery store for a week (ok, a couple of days).
Available at convenience stores, Walmart, Target, and grocery stores for about 5 bucks.
Bacon Salt
For some reason, geeks love Bacon. So let them shake a little bacon on everything they like to eat with this Bacon Salt.
Available from ThinkGeek.com for $4.99.
Engadget Unleashes First of Holiday Gift Guides
Tech blog Engadget is doing their Holiday Gift Guide differently this year. Instead of one massive guide, they’re breaking it down into various categories, publishing one category every few days. This is a great idea and possibly a more comprehensive techie gift guide overall.
They began things today with a guide to e-Readers. I have to admit, I’ve been thinking about asking for one for Christmas. The only thing that holds me back is that searching for books in electronic format hasn’t yielded promising results quite yet – at least for books I’m interested in acquiring. So, I might hold off a little longer. Perhaps next year? (I am looking forward to getting rid of all the book clutter one day though!)
Something else I’m interested in is a new digital camera. I like the one I have, but I’m interested in getting a slimmer one that fits in my pocket better. So, hopefully Engadget will be doing a Digital Camera guide – I’ll be watching for it.