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.