Chris Pirillo » gifts

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

Chris — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:28:33 +0000

Are You Ready for the Holidays? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and Christmas is but a few weeks away? I was aghast yesterday when I walked into a store that was playing Christmas carols… until I realized what the date was. Holy crap where did the year go? I haven’t even started to think about holiday shopping yet, never mind actually DOING any shopping.

After I had my little panic attack, I sat down to check out what was going on around out community. Low and behold… people are talking about the upcoming festivities. They’re figuring out what to cook with their turkeys, and what the hottest new gifts are for this year. Geez I’m way behind, aren’t I?

I was happy as hell to see that the holidays aren’t the only thing that people are chattering about. Thankfully, I found many interesting and informative blogs and threads on a huge variety of topics to keep me busy… and to get my mind back OFF of the holiday season. I’m just not ready quite yet!

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Merry Christmas, and to All a Good Night

Chris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:40:51 +0000

Merry Christmas, and to All a Good Night is a post from Chris Pirillo

It’s been somewhat of a tradition to unwrap our Christmas gifts just as the clock strikes Midnight (the Christmas Eve / Christmas Day cusp). I don’t mind buying presents for family – but I really enjoy finding items for their stocking(s). The “fun” things usually take precedence over practicality, but Ponzi is tricky to buy for. She’s not really into toys, per se – but she requested the game Operation this afternoon. WTF?!

I try to get gifts that I know the other person will appreciate – even if they don’t like ‘em. “It’s the thought that counts” will always apply. Still, I sometimes sneak things for myself (as evidenced by the glowing objets I apparently put on order, realizing that Ponzi’s not really into them as much as I am).

I wasn’t given much to go on this year, so many of her presents are what I could find around town. We’re lucky insofar as we have many things we need – like a roof over our head, and food on our plates. Ponzi really only asked for us to pay a bit more towards our mortgage (to lower the payment), and a few other charitable donations. Difficult not to argue with those wishes, but they’re a bit tricky to stick under the tree (or inside a stocking).

I did my best, given the circumstances. Couldn’t really get around town at the last minute, either – what, with the snowstorm that blew through town the other day. I knew what she wanted, or what she might want, or what she wouldn’t be too shocked to receive:

Travel Door Alarm
iPod Speakers
Hubba Bubba Gum Book
Engrave-It
Annie on DVD
Swiss Army Knife
$50 iTunes Gift Certificate
Sexy Motherpucker Lip Gloss
Expo Marker Set
Papermate Felt Tip Marker Set
Sharpie Pen Set
Astronaut Ice Cream – Neapolitan
BluAlert Bluetooth Bracelet
C.H.I.M.P. Rearview Monitor Mirror – black
DaysAgo Refrigerator Timer – Magnetic
Dead Fred Pen Holder
Glowing UFO Drink Coaster
Heart Hand Warmer
Inanimate Character Stickers
Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets
Paper E-mail
Paper Voodoo Notepad
Phantom Keystroker V2
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things
Staple Free Stapler – Black
Stickman Action Figure
Tear Away Planner Mousepad
ThinkGeek Bluetooth Retro Handset
USB Aromatherapy Oil Burner – Lavender
USB Plasma Ball

What Do Geeks Want for Gifts?

Chris — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:13:31 +0000

What Do Geeks Want for Gifts? is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is Thomas Ward’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

(1) Aiptek Action High Definition Camcorder  

Aiptek joins the HD revolution with their line of high-quality, low-priced digital camcorders. This camcorder records to ultra-portable SD cards, eliminating the need to carry bulky tapes and/or DVDs to operate. On a single 8GB card, you could record up to 5 hours of 1080i high definition content. If video isn’t your thing, then you can also take up to over 32,000 photos! This camcorder comes with an AC adapter, rechargeable battery, USB cable, component cable, A/V cables, case, and remote control.  

(2) Magnavox Blu-ray Disc Player  

If you want to take your movie-viewing experience to the next level, then I highly recommend this affordable Blu-ray player. As you may know, Blu-ray is becoming increasingly popular these days, and some of the bigger brands have been selling players in upwards of $400 or more. Magnavox has decided to take an alternate route for the holidays, making Blu-ray more accessible to those on the consumer market. Not only can this machine play your favorite Blu-ray discs, but it can also play regular DVDs, CDs, CD-Rs, and even CD-RWs (a lot more than most players these days).

(3) Vizio 32″ HDTV with Digital Tuner  

I can speak from personal experience that Sony has always made excellent equipment, so I don’t hesitate for even a moment to recommend their new Vizio line of high definition televisions. This one features a 32-inch widescreen LCD (which is excellent for those of you who prefer the “cinema” experience). It also features “virtual surround”, which emulates the feeling of surround sound through its two included speakers. If you really want to complete that “cinema” experience you’re looking for, this television can also be mounted to your wall. To top it all off, each Vizio purchased through Wal-Mart comes with a free one-year warranty with in-home service.  

(4) Creative Zen 8GB MP3 Player  

I always loved the SoundBlaster line of video cards. So, when I heard that Creative was also releasing its own line of digital MP3 players, I knew that I would want to recommend one. This version comes with a 2.5″ digital screen, and can hold up to 2,000 songs. You also get a built-in FM radio, voice recorder, alarm clock function. This handy little gadget can also eliminate the need for all of those bulky external storage devices since the Zen, itself, can also be used for external storage! The best part is that it can be expanded upon, using the included SD card slot. 

(5) Halo 3 Covenant Laser Tag Set  

Upon first viewing, I expected less of this item – since it is, indeed, a children’s toy. After playing with it, however, I was quite surprised at how true to the video game series these plasma pistols held! The lights and sounds make you feel as though you are Master Chief, leading the Spartans in the fight against the Covenant Armada! If you, or your child, are a fan of laser tag (or the Halo games), then this item definitely belongs on your wish list!

What Geeks Want for Christmas

Chris — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:21:18 +0000

What Geeks Want for Christmas is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is ZweeK’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

The holiday we’ve all been waiting for is getting closer. As geeks who desire gadgets and gizmos, we all have something we want this Christmas. I have created a list that consists of the top things geeks would die for (or at least want). First, let me tell you guys about who I am – since these things are purely what I like and would buy for myself.

I am a first year college student majoring in computer engineering and writing this article to have a chance in winning the HP Magic Giveaway. I love computers and everything about them, so there is a high chance there are some computer-related items on this list. I first got into computers when I was around 12, watching my mom fix computers for her job as a computer technician. I was fascinated, and that was when my knowledge for technology took off. Now that you know more about me, I would like to know more about my fellow geeks! After reading my list, I would like to see your wish list to see what you want this Christmas! Other than that, enjoy what’s on my top 5 list.

DasKeyboard

We spend hours and hours in front of the computer, so having a good keyboard is “key” when typing a paper or chatting on geeks.pirillo.com. But a true typist will really appreciate a keyboard that has good tactile feedback and durability. The “daskeyboard” has all that. It is completely mechanical; each press of a key will make a satisfying click from the gold plated switches, no mushy keys here. It has LED back-lit indicators and extra USB ports on the side. This is a great gift for bloggers as well. It comes in 2 versions: Professional having printed keys and Ultimate having 100% blank keys for those who don’t need to look at their keyboard when typing.

Nerf Vulcan

If you’re like me, you still like toys that reveal your inner-child. Now you bring take your first person shooter games into reality. Here is Hasbro’s Nerf Vulcan EBF-25, a battery powered, fully automatic, foam dart gun. This thing is a beast in the office; no one will ever steal your papers and pens again! It fires 3 darts per second and comes with a belt, box magazine, removable tripod and 25 darts.

Flip MinoHD

The Flip has been a really popular gadget this year – even Chris has one! What makes it so great is its simplicity of use. All you need to do to start recording is to turn it on and press the big red button. Video quality is superb for its size, and you don’t even have to carry a USB cable with you to transfer video back to your computer. A USB connector simply “flips” out the top of the Flip. The Mino HD records in 1280 by 720 at 30 frames per second and holds 4GB of built-in memory (60 minutes of video). Comes in black, but you can skin it! This is a great gift for “YoutTubers” or people who don’t like carrying around big camcorders.

Eternalight ELITEMax

This is the ultimate gift for geeks who are attracted to anything that glows (like Chris). This LED flashlight is not like any other flashlight – it’s “smart”. It has multiple modes and output option, like instant momentary overdrive, auto-off timer, dimmable settings, variable rate flasher, variable rate strobe, SOS, attention getting effects, 4-level battery status indicator and more! It uses AA batteries and comes with a limited LIFETIME warranty. How’s that for a flashlight?

KOR One Hydration Vessel

The KOR One looks like an elegant piece of art. It improves upon standard water bottles by having a hinge for the cap, wide mouth for ice cubes and most importantly is made of BPA-free polycarbonate. Thirty dollars may seem a little expensive for a plastic water bottle but in the end you are helping the environment and looking good while doing it.

So, what do you guys want for the holidays? Please post a comment and share your wish list with the geek community!

What’s on Your Holiday Toy Wish List for Gifts?

Chris — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:45:49 +0000

What’s on Your Holiday Toy Wish List for Gifts? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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The holidays are fast approaching, as we all know. Have you been naughty… or nice? Have you sent Santa your wish list yet? If you haven’t, you may want to check out the hottest must-have items of the season.

Growing up, us boys had awesome holidays. We had many traditions that were sacred to us. I remember going through the catalogs on Thanksgiving Day each year, marking the things that we wanted under the tree on Christmas morning.

What Amazon has done this year is to come up with a very simple and fun way to browse anything and everything you can think of buying (or asking for!) for Christmas. You can search by category or keyword. They have products of all shapes and sizes, for all ages.

No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll get a great idea of what’s new and what’s out there. Heck, I’m already making my list! Are you?

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Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Chris — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:13:20 +0000

Father’s Day Gift Ideas is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Father’s Day is just a few days away. This year I’m more grateful than ever to have my Dad. He is recuperating nicely after his horrible car accident recently. Have you bought a gift yet for your Dad or even your Grandpa? I put together this list of top gift ideas for Dad, with the help from my chat room. Some of these may require you to pool resources with siblings or other family members. But from my perspective, they’re all worth the cost and should make Dad quite happy come Sunday.

Automatic Professional Baseball Electronic Scoreboard – Whew. Try saying that quickly a few times. It’s a little desktop piece of hardware that pulls in all of the latest baseball stats and scores. It doesn’t require a subscription fee, and it works wirelessly! Since my Dad is really in to baseball, this is something he’d love. He wouldn’t have to go flipping channels to find all the latest scores.
The Chumby – Yes, this is kind of geeky, but it appeals to non-Geeks, as well. It can pull in the weather, the latest scores, and even news. It’s a very interactive little gadget. It’s well suited to people who don’t want to have to do much work to get all of these with ease.
Bose QC3 Noise Reduction Headphones – I’ve had mine for awhile now, and I love them. They weren’t even on my radar until Ponzi got herself a set. I tried them, and couldn’t believe how comfortable they are. I cannot travel without them. Even if I am not listening to something, I turn them on to shut out the random noise and chatter on an airplane. It really works.
The Flip – Whether you get the Flip video camera, or something like it… get something that’s easy to use. This little device is just amazing. Just turn it on, push a button, and record. How much easier can it get? The quality is pretty good. In fact, for the price and size of this… the quality is pretty darn good.
Tix Clocks – I have sold so many of these, just by running them in my live stream. You don’t even have to get six of them. Even having one would be great! They’re so much fun, and a great conversation starter.

Whether your Dad is a Geek or not, he’d love any of these gifts. The point is, make sure you don’t get him anything so complicated that it sits in the box on the shelf until your mom gets tired of looking at it.

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What do Girls Want as Gifts from Geeks?

Chris — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:51:45 +0000

What do Girls Want as Gifts from Geeks? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Laura writes: “Some men are great at picking out that special gift to give to their partner. Men that are “geeks” seem to be the worst gift givers. Let me rephrase that… they are bad at giving “girl” gifts. Every girl now and again loves to receive that Techie gift from her guy: like an ipod, iphone or Blu-Ray player. However, there are times when we need to feel special – that our guy cares enough to know about what makes us a girl.”

Gift Certificates There is nothing like the gift to shop. I love this gift, but it is so important where the gift certificate comes from. Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, or Sephora equals good. Walmart, Radio Shack and Game Stop – bad!
Flowers Now I know what you’re thinking. But wait… don’t send flowers on her birthday. Send them after you’ve stayed up all night working on your computer and didn’t spend any time with her. Send them because you just started to think about her and wanted to let her know. Gifts are to be given from the heart, not just on Holidays. Does everyone hear that? “…NOT JUST HOLIDAYS”. Stopping on the way home from work and buying roses for $5 out of a van, and saying “here, don’t say I never get you anything” is not the way to go. Splurge and buy her flowers for no particular reason at all, with a little note to say “I’m thinking about you”.
Spa packages Awwww… nothing says “I appreciate you” more than a day at the spa being pampered. This gift says, “honey I know you work hard at your job, that you keep our home clean, that the meals you cook are incredible and because you are awesome at everything, I want you to have a day for yourself”. Bad idea – giving her massage oil and saying “we can test this out later (wink, wink)”.
Jewelry Ok men, this is important. If you are giving jewelry, try to pay attention to what she wears before buying something expensive that she will never wear. Diamonds are forever, so usually you can’t go too wrong with that. My favorite gifts include anything from Tiffany’s. There is just something about that blue box wrapped in a white ribbon that makes me melt. Bad idea – a key chain from the drugstore that says “I [heart] NY”.
Designer handbags Now this is my personal favorite. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes. OMG, this is one gift she would never expect from her guy, yet if he gives you this you feel special, sophisticated and beautiful. Make sure your handbag comes in a gift box. Most of the time the box is just as important as the bag inside (don’t ask). If you think you would never have any idea what style bag to buy, don’t fret my hairy friends. Most of these upscale stores have very talented sales associates working there – they know the latest trends and what is popular. Bad idea – any handbag that is purchased from a Box Store, or has the words “impostor”, or “replica”.

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Stocking Stuffers

Chris — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:57:54 +0000

Stocking Stuffers is a post from Chris Pirillo

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It’s no secret that I love Christmas. One of my absolute favorite things, though, is to stuff stockings. Stockings were always fun and special when I was growing up, so I went all out to make Ponzi’s special this year, as well.

Here is a list of what I put into her stockings. Yes… there are two! She has two feet, so she may as well have two stockings.

KitKat bar
Light Blaster (bends and refracts light. Cool to look at xmas lights through)
Hazlenut chocolates
Service bell (like at counters in stores) to get ahold of me easier
Audio power pack for iPhone… one for her purse, and one for her car
Pound of Major Dickinson’s Blend coffee from Peet’s, which is her favorite
Neon glow 22″ necklace
Play money… to help start her on her coin collection. What?! Play money doesn’t count? Oh well, it’s still fun.
Harmonica
Life Savers Storybook
Kazoo
A cow keychain that moo’s and has an LED light. This is to symbolize the fact that she wanted to donate to a charity that buys a cow for a needy family, who can then use it for milk… and eventually meat.
Oreo cookies
Paw rubber stamp
Earplugs, so that she won’t have to hear the Ventrilo stream when she doesn’t want to
Chocolate coins. Unfortunately, they don’t make plain ones anymore, so these are SpongeBob Squarepants ones
Stretch Deck, to help her with stretching more, which is something she plans to do
Sour Patch candy

What do you put in your stockings for loved ones, family or children? Do you have special traditional gifts? Leave me a follow-up comment, or email me at chris@pirillo.com and let me know!

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The Light Night Before Christmas

Chris — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 06:20:54 +0000

The Light Night Before Christmas is a post from Chris Pirillo

Oh, what a wonderful Christmas Eve we had – with Ponzi’s aunt and uncle, and our good friend Brandon Paddock. It was a quiet evening, for the most part. We had dinner, exchanged a few gifts, decked the ficus with a single string of lights (as we didn’t get a Christmas tree this year), and reminisced about Christmases past. When it was just the two of us together, Ponzi and I made a halfhearted attempt at exchanging gifts and whatnot – although most of her gifts are to be acquired after our honeymoon. I can only assume that everybody out there had a good night, too – merry and bright and all that jazz.

The Best Christmas Present?

Chris — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:00:44 +0000

The Best Christmas Present? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Christmas, this year, will be a non-event. I’m disappointed, but realistically prepared. We don’t have a Christmas tree, we haven’t set out many decorations, and our shopping schedule has been extremely cramped as of late (fiscally and physically). Santa Claus didn’t forget us, though; Ponzi’s been picking up items from my wish list, and I’ve been planning a stocking to end all stockings for her. It’s almost three in the morning here, and I’m wondering if I’ll even have time to pick up a screw for my glasses tomorrow (it fell out at some point this evening). That would be a wonderful gift: time.

Ponzi says she only wants one thing this year for Christmas: a completely new wardrobe. Apparently, clothes go out of style after you wear them twice – and it’s only fashionable to wear 1/10th of the outfits 90% of the time? Well, that kind of gift is unrealistic. She thinks I’ve already seen my presents (as they’ve been coming in all sorts of boxes, mixed in with wedding registry gifts). In my mind, the best Christmas present for her at this point is to match the amount she spent on me – letting her spend the same amount on her wardrobe, “guilt free.”

50 Geek Gift Ideas (My Wishlist)

Chris — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:44:17 +0000

50 Geek Gift Ideas (My Wishlist) is a post from Chris Pirillo

I’ve worked my fingers off over the past day, updating my personal wish list with all the latest interesting gadgets and gizmos (not to mention a few stocking stuffers thrown in for good measure). Without further ado, I give you a semi-official and almost-complete wish list – which could be good for just about any ol’ geek:

BTW, if you order anything through OverStock.com before December 1st, you can save an additional 12% (saving as much as $125).

Did I leave anything out?

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

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Network Tools for Windows

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VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.