by Mark Borries

Created on: November 05, 2008

So you are almost done with all your holiday shopping, the last thing you need is something for that self confessed computer geek in the clan. No problem, you just head for the nearest Radio Shack/Circuit City/Best Buy, and pick something at random from the computer area. They"ll love it. Not so fast, before you waste your time and theirs, there are a few facts you need to know. Most importantly, what type of system do the use. Buying a Windows based program does them no good if they run a Mac, there is a huge difference. What speed their system runs at also makes a huge difference, and what type of graphics card is important to know when buying some of the new graphics intense games out there. So get their system requirements first.

When buying a computer related gift you need to know the level of experience of the recipient. Are they proficient at navigating the Internet, build their own systems, and write some of their own programs. Or is it someone who just likes to run plug and play programs, and couldn't tell the difference between a motherboard and a cutting board. Knowing where the person stands on a proficiency scale will give you a lot better idea of what level gift to buy.

You also need to take into consideration their likes and dislikes. One foot inside a Gamestop store will give you an idea of the diversity available in todays game market. There are a lot of titles that sound similar, but have no resemblance to each other. Knowing what games they already play, or what type of productivity software they need will steer you in the right direction. From there most knowledgeable store clerks can help you find that special gift.

People argue that gift cards show a lack of thought and originality, and that they are very impersonal. But the computer world is one area where you need to know so many specifics to get the right item, a gift card is a very viable option. Personally, I would much rather get a gift card, than have to pretend I'm not disappointed when unwrapping a well meant computer gift that is unusable with my system. Unless you are willing to take the time to research things, or have an accomplice on the inside to give you everything you need to know, the best intentions of giving the perfect computer related gift, can easily turn into an unwanted, useless paperweight. Or you are subjecting them a visit to the store to return the item and exchange it for something else. I've been to the stores after the holidays and seen the return lines, that isn't somewhere I want to be.

To recap, know what system they have, know what they like, and what they are looking for. Shopping for your computer geek doesn't have to be a problem, just do some research first. And a gift card is sometimes the best choice, you know they are going to get exactly what they want. And if several people give them gift cards from the same place, they can all be bundled together for something really special.

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