11 gift ideas for geeks and nerds

Take out the wrapping paper and unroll the gift ribbons: The search for gifts begins with the run-up to Christmas. Here you will find ideas in a wide variety of price ranges that the nerds and geeks in your family or friends could be happy about.

The cookbook for geeks *

Cooking with a difference: This is not about fancy international recipes, but above all about the approach. Set up as a toolkit, “The Cookbook for Geeks” offers a solid knowledge base for novice and advanced cooks. The problem and solution are presented for the individual subject areas, followed by a discussion, garnished with one or the other UML diagram. In addition to the structure, the recipes can also score points: whether for the LAN party or visiting the in-laws – the options are diverse.

What would a gift list for geeks and nerds be without a mention of the Raspberry Pi? Released at the end of October, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W offers significantly more power than its predecessor – this should please hobbyists. The options for WLAN and Bluetooth have remained the same, and the setup also includes a micro SD card slot, a mini HDMI connection, a CSI-2 camera connection and a HAT-compatible 40-PIN I / O header .

Everything important in the cloud – this is now also possible in the analog world. The cloud storage made of wood should not only be good for one or the other bad joke, but also offers space for cell phones, keys and co can.

If you would like to play console games on a slightly larger screen but don’t have a TV at hand, you should be happy about the Genki Shadowcast adapter. Together with the appropriate app, for example, the games on the Nintendo Switch can be transferred to the laptop screen. The fact that the adapter was even produced is thanks to the great interest of the Kickstarter community: they have been investing diligently in the Genki projects since 2018.

Pennywise lamp *

Stylish lighting with a horror factor: the bright red balloon may look like a party gadget at first glance, but horror fans will recognize the trademark of the killer clown Pennywise in it. He uses the red balloon in the film “It” to lure children into its clutches – the somewhat more harmless home accessory variant, on the other hand, sheds light on the darkness.

Mako Precision Bit Set *

Screw more! The possibilities of unscrewing, examining or repairing digital gadgets and then reassembling them – often with a few remaining screws – are in some cases already limited by the manufacturers. While a right to repair is sought in the USA, Valve shows, for example, how to open their Steam deck – and advises against it in the same breath. If you still like to explore the inner workings of electrical appliances, you will find bit attachments for a wide variety of screw profiles in the compact screwdriver set from Fixit.

Tile: alternative to the Apple Airtag *

House keys, wallets or backpacks: Objects that tend to get lost can be tracked with the Airtags from Apple or Tile tags for Android users. Tile’s tracking gadgets have a range of up to 76 meters and, according to the manufacturer, are waterproof at least under certain circumstances. The only thing that should not be misplaced in the end is the cell phone, which can be used to track down the equipped items!

A fruit keyboard or a vegetable piano? The Makey Makey technology kit, which was also produced by Kickstart Support, makes this possible. Conductive objects replace classic keys by connecting them to a computer using terminals and a circuit board with a USB port. Thanks to the playful approach, the set can also inspire enthusiasm among children, for example – and offers plenty of space for experimentation.

Self-cleaning water bottle from Larq *

Refillable water bottles have already become established in many backpacks and bags. The model from Larq, however, has a special function: the bottle cleans itself again and again with a built-in UV-C LED light. The battery required for this should have a running time of one month and can then be recharged via USB. The only disadvantage: the double-walled bottle is explicitly designed for water, the manufacturer advises caution when filling other drinks.

Lego Batman Batmobile Tumbler *

The new Batman movie won’t start in theaters until March 2022, but the first Lego gadgets for “The Batman” will be available just in time for Christmas. 2,049 parts together make up the Batmobile Tumbler, which is initially fun to do and is a real eye-catcher after completion.

Take notes, edit presentations or read scripts without distractions: this is possible with the Remarkable tablet. The passive display in paper look ensures significantly lower battery consumption than conventional tablets, with the Connect software extension, for example, the screen can also be shared, and recordings can be saved in Dropbox or Google Drive.