I suggest a book "A Short History of Nearly Everything": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Short_History_of_Nearly_Every...
Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
11–20 of 55 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#12I might be kind of strange in this regard but: I hate getting physical presents!
At the moment there are only a few very specific things which I really want or need so buying me something random will just result in wasted money on the presenters side and wasted storage space in my side. Right now I have about 15 unread books next to my bed, I have all the tools (software, mechanical/electrical tools) I will ever need, I have about 5 bicycles which I don't use and the only hobby I have right now is fitness and writing my PhD thesis.
If you want to present me something then either present me an Amazon coupon for the unlikely case that I want to order something specific in the net half year or invite me to a nice restaurant.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#13Check out successful crowdsourcing campaigns, like Pebble, Keysmart, and Keybit.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#14Why do we treat "hackers" as some sort of mythical beasts who belong to a whole different race altogether? Now, I'm not saying you're doing that, but this is something I've observed quite a lot. Especially with those "X for Hackers" etc.. Answering your question — it differs from person to person. I personally wouldn't be interested in receiving a new router, for example, but I do know people who would. I'd like a ty…
It's a simple question. Make a suggestion and move on. Of course different people like different things. Platitudes don't help anyone here.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#15HHKB Pro 2 :)
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#16Get them a nice mechanical keyboard. - http://elitekeyboards.com/ Xkcd volume 0 - http://www.amazon.com/xkcd-0-Randall-Munroe/dp/0615314465/ A subscription to Hacker Monthly - http://hackermonthly.com/store.html
I see a lot of people mention mechanical keyboards on here. What's the hype around them? What makes them preferable to another external keyboard?
In the end it is just personal preference. Try it on your own and then decide. A friend of my spent a decade typing on an old mechanical IBM keyboard and then switched to a standard Apple keyboard. I am the other way around. I started with a 'soft' keyboard and now switched to a mechanical one. Both of us just prefer how the respective keyboard feels.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#17Some things that came quickly to mind.
=Computing=
* Clacky keyboards and clacky keyboard accessories: http://shop.daskeyboard.com, http://elitekeyboards.com
* Liquid cooling kits: http://koolance.com
* Lattice ECP3 Versa (PCI-E FPGA kit): http://www.latticesemi.com/en/Products/DevelopmentBoardsAndK...
=Tools=
* Stuff from Jetbrains: http://www.jetbrains.com
* Sublime Text: http://www.sublimetext.com
* Reveal and/or Spark Inspector: http://revealapp.com, http://sparkinspector.com
* Fluid: http://fluidapp.com
* Several months of Linode, Rackspace, Heroku, etc.
=Hardware=
* Rascal Micro (Web-enabled, python-driven microcontroller platform): http://rascalmicro.com
* Arduino (because Arduino): http://arduino.cc/en/ArduinoCertified/IntelGalileo
* Phidgets (USB physical interface components kit): http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?category=18&product_id=...
* TI TIVA launchpad (learn C the really hard way): http://www.ti.com/ww/en/launchpad/tiva_c_head.html
* Makey Makey (Turn anything into a touch input): http://www.makeymakey.com/
* Misc wearable stuff: http://www.adafruit.com/category/65
* FPGA development board (Learn HDL): http://www.altera.com/education/univ/materials/boards/de0-na...
* USB Logic Analyzer: http://www.saleae.com/logic
* Lego MindStorms: http://mindstorms.lego.com and hacking links: http://andrew.ghost.io/hacking-lego-mindstorms-ev3-with-java...
* Sparkfun gift certificate: https://www.sparkfun.com/gift_certificates
* Adafruit gift certificate: http://www.adafruit.com/category/14
* A trip to Halted (bummer, no gift certificates): http://www.halted.com
=Food=
* PolyScience Sous Vide: http://cuisinetechnology.com/sousvide-creative.php (or this link: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Sous-Vide-Machines)
* PolyScience Anti-Griddle: http://cuisinetechnology.com/the-anti-griddle.php
* PolyScience Sonic Prep: http://cuisinetechnology.com/sonicprep.php
* Actually, anything from PolyScience
* Chemicals: http://www.biozoon.de/shop, http://molecule-r.com, http://www.modernistpantry.com
* Breville Smart Oven (also great for solder paste reflow): http://www.brevilleusa.com/the-smart-oven-r.html
* iSi Thermo Whip: http://www.isi.com/us/culinary/for-professionals/products/th... and injector tips: http://www.isi.com/us/culinary/for-professionals/products/ac...
* Pacojet (I would like one, please): http://www.pacojet.com/en
* Gastrovac: http://www.cookingconcepts.com/en/appliances/Gastrovac/51
=Other=
* A Dremel: http://www.dremel.com
* Digital Cutter: http://www.silhouetteamerica.com
* Sugru: http://sugru.com
* Aerogel: http://www.buyaerogel.com
* An investment account at etrade, scottrade, vanguard, fidelity, etc.
* Skill badges: http://www.adafruit.com/category/70
* A TechShop membership: https://secure.techshop.ws/memberships.cfm
* Anything from United Nuclear or Information Unlimited (at your own risk): http://www.unitednuclear.com, http://www.amazing1.com
* DJI Phantom 2 Vision (assuming aerial photog appeals more than quadcopter hacking): http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-2-vision
* AeroQuad, APM:Copter, or Crazyflie (assuming quadcopter hacking appeals more than functioning quadcopter): http://www.aeroquadstore.com, http://copter.ardupilot.com, http://www.bitcraze.se
* One bitcoin (but, for etiquette's sake, be sure to remove the price tag)
Edit: adding more
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#18Why do we treat "hackers" as some sort of mythical beasts who belong to a whole different race altogether? Now, I'm not saying you're doing that, but this is something I've observed quite a lot. Especially with those "X for Hackers" etc.. Answering your question — it differs from person to person. I personally wouldn't be interested in receiving a new router, for example, but I do know people who would. I'd like a ty…
This is no different than something like "gifts for photographers".
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#19Get them a nice mechanical keyboard. - http://elitekeyboards.com/ Xkcd volume 0 - http://www.amazon.com/xkcd-0-Randall-Munroe/dp/0615314465/ A subscription to Hacker Monthly - http://hackermonthly.com/store.html
I see a lot of people mention mechanical keyboards on here. What's the hype around them? What makes them preferable to another external keyboard?
In a conventional keyboard, the point at which the switch closes is also the point where the key bottoms out, plus or minus the amount of give that the rubber spring-membrane provides. The typing feel they provide is both impactful and gummy - you push a key until it stops abruptly, like mashing a finger down on your desk directly, and then you have to lift your finger off the key entirely to let it release. Trying to lighten the impacts can lead to missing keypresses, especially on an older keyboard.
On a mechanical keyboard (mine has Cherry MX Browns), the point at which the switches close is before the key bottoms out. Depending on the switch type, the closing point can be felt, too. They're also driven back by mechanical springs, rather than a rubber membrane. So, rather than mash the keys until they stop to guarantee a letter press, the typing feel is lighter and more controlled. It's also much bouncier, thanks to the springs - like bouncing on a trampoline, rather than trying to jump on a hard floor.
I went from old-school gummy keyboards (Yay ancient Dell hardware) to laptop-style scissors keyboards, and when my last one died, I splurged and got a mechanical keyboard instead. It's similar to a laptop-style keyboard feel, where there is a very definite point of engagement rather than tons of mush. However, the throw is still long, and the bounce-back is a new experience.
It's all about feel - definitely look around and see if you can borrow one (or multiple - there are a half-dozen different flavors of mechanical switch from Cherry alone) to try before spending the not-insignificant amount of money to buy one.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good gift ideas for hacker types?
#20high quality:
whole bean coffee
loose leaf tea
microbrewed beer