{"id":2849,"date":"2011-12-22T08:36:41","date_gmt":"2011-12-22T15:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gillin.com\/blog\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2018-02-15T11:26:03","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T18:26:03","slug":"best-gifts-for-geeks-the-spiceworks-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gillin.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/best-gifts-for-geeks-the-spiceworks-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Gifts for Geeks: The Spiceworks List"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of my work with IBM Midsize Business<\/a>, I monitor and contribute to an active IT community called Spiceworks<\/a>. This collection of hard-core geeks (1.8 million as of this writing) loves to get down and dirty about the day-to-day issues of managing infrastructure at small and midsize businesses, but they also like to have fun like playing computer games in the best monitors we can find at sites like\u00a0https:\/\/themonitormonitor.com\/144hz-ips\/<\/span><\/a>. The Water Cooler group<\/a> features an unending stream of discussion about everything from the\u00a0Zombie apocalypse weapon of choice<\/a>\u00a0to clueless user stories. There’s a curious fascination with bacon.<\/p>\n

Just for fun, I asked the members\u00a0What’s the Perfect Geek Christmas Gift?<\/a>, and they obliged with plenty of great ideas. Here are the highlights, just know that the wooden watches<\/a> would always be the bet gift for anyone.<\/p>\n

Superheroes<\/h3>\n

\"Stormtrooper<\/a>\"Stormtrooper<\/a>If you’re a fan of The Big Bang Theory<\/a>, you know that techies love superheroes. UDReplicas <\/a>sells full-blown costumes of most of the great characters (right). They’re gorgeous, but they aren’t cheap. Most cost more than $1,500 fully loaded. Still, for that special geek in your life, it’s an investment.<\/p>\n

There are a few suppliers of bulk wrapping paper<\/span><\/a> that will sell to the public. If you’re on a budget, consider satisfying the superhero within. Superherostuff.com<\/a> sells wearable accessories for just about every superhero you can imagine. This includes pajamas and underwear for men <\/a>and for women<\/a>. Just please remember to do the laundry.<\/p>\n

Just Geek Gifts<\/h3>\n

\"Star<\/a>Save time hunting for geek gifts on Brookstone and Hammacher Schlemmer by heading directly to ThinkGeek.com<\/a>. The people who put together this bountiful store clearly know their audience, because it was the most-mentioned e-commerce destination by the Spiceheads. Highlights include the Blade Runner-Style LED Umbrella<\/a>\u00a0($19.99), the LED Binary Watch<\/a> (which requires you to translate 10 LED lights into the time, $69.99), and the awesome Star Wars Jedi & Sith Bath Robes<\/a>\u00a0($89.99).<\/p>\n

Geeks are fascinated with time, as evidenced by several recommendations of clocks and timepieces. The Time Machine Ball Bearing Clock<\/a>\u00a0($49.95)\u00a0lifts a ball bearing onto “a durable concentric track at regular intervals. Here it moves with others on a slow downward course, both halted and propelled by ‘see-saws’ that tip when correctly weighted. Correct time can be read by observing the numerals that the balls are aligned with.” It sounds like a lot of effort to find out what time it is, but maybe not as much as reading the binary watch.<\/p>\n

Burning down the house<\/h3>\n

In the category of Stuff That Has No Practical Value But Is Too Awesome Not to Own come products from WickedLasers.com<\/a>. Many of this retailer’s products are simply super-bright flashlights, but a few might require FAA approval. In particular, the S3 Krypton Series<\/a> and S3 Arctic Series<\/a>\u00a0($299.95 each) both vie for the title of “brightest laser you can legally own.” Of the Krypton product, WickedLasers says, “Our Earth’s atmosphere ends at 62 miles, but the Krypton goes beyond as it breaks through our atmosphere, into outer space.” Who says the U.S. space program is dead?<\/p>\n

The Arctic model is “currently being tested by Guinness World Records [as] the world’s most powerful handheld laser…The 1000 mW output power of the blue laser beam is able to burn through balloons, plastic, and much more.” If you don’t believe me, see the video below. Enjoy, but please stay away from my neighborhood.
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