Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#31

Post by xradionut » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 7:44 PM UTC

Here's what I tell my wife's family and my family. If you feel like gifting, DO NOT get us physical gifts, we don't have the space and there's a 99.99% chance you will not be right in your gift selection.

We'd love to have a call or card, but if you must spend money, gift cards to specific merchants, (insert list), or cash are acceptable.

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#32

Post by francis- » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 7:44 PM UTC

Give them money - they know what they want.

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#33

Post by ChickeNES » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 7:45 PM UTC

elyrly wrote: post #2

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

http://beagleboard.org/products/beaglebone%20black

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#34

Post by iaskwhy » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 7:51 PM UTC

This year I've been recommending a donation in their name to a Watsi patient: https://watsi.org/

It's not the best match for every hacker but for those that care about what Watsi does then it's a really amazing gift.

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#35

Post by gjmulhol » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 7:57 PM UTC

riffraff wrote: post #29

I discovered this through reddit some days ago: 20 grams of gallium for a few bucks http://www.amazon.com/Gallium-99-99%25-Pure-Grams-Even/dp/B0... think as cool as mercury, but safer :)

Gallium is pretty nasty stuff and is much harder to clean than Mercury. Try getting a Ga droplet on your clothes; it will literally never come out. It is also a heavy metal, so it is not something you want to play around with outside of a closed jar. Its not THAT dangerous, but in the short run neither is Hg, but they are both not great long term.

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#36

Post by NAFV_P » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 8:09 PM UTC

Remember one thing, it's the thought that counts.

I would recommend either something that is well engineered, but old_skool - like a Remington typewriter.

||

If you are a coder yourself, write your own present. I've seen a Christmas card written in C with the ncurses library.

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#37

Post by lucaspiller » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 8:15 PM UTC

platz wrote: post #22

Stylish clothing which makes one look good in the neighborhood.

You go outside...?

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#38

Post by skierandcoder » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 8:19 PM UTC

Things I've bought recently and other hacker types might also really enjoy:

1. 1 year subscription to Silvrback blog: https://www.silvrback.com

2. A Bitcoin. http://www.coinbase.com

3. Brothers Karamazov. http://www.amazon.com/The-Brothers-Karamazov-Fyodor-Dostoevs...

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#39

Post by lemming » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 8:20 PM UTC

Sugru (which I think is a great gift all on its own) have an alternative Christmas list here, focused on things that will last and are easily repairable, plus various other things interesting for a variety of geeky reasons.

http://sugru.com/gift-list

Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?

#40

Post by honzzz » Sun, Dec 08, 2013, 8:22 PM UTC

I think it's a good idea to give something that the person would never buy, something totally different than the things they encounter on daily basis. I got an art book once - 'woman as an inspiration', a collection of famous paintings depicting women. I loved it and I am pretty sure I would never ever buy that myself. I also love gifts that you do - I got a trip to Valencia once, that was pretty cool.