Linux-Netbook.com is dedicated to small laptops running Linux based operating systems like Android, Chrome OS, Joli OS, Linux Mint, MeeGo, and Ubuntu. We encourage and support using free and open source software.
Linux-Netbook.com is dedicated to small laptops running Linux based operating systems like Android, Chrome OS, Joli OS, Linux Mint, MeeGo, and Ubuntu. We encourage and support using free and open source software.
Christmas is approaching rapidly and if you know a Linux geek you want to present with a geeky gift, this is exactly the inspiration you were looking for.
The list of things I found include computer hardware, electronics, a DVD, shirts, coffee mugs, an unusual musical instrument, and something special at the end.
So without further ado, here is a list of Christmas gift ideas for Linux geeks.
Since this site is about netbooks, it would be a shame not to start with a Linux netbook. The Lemote YeeLoong is a special device not only because Richard Stallman uses one but because it can run entirely with free software even at the BIOS level.
So if you happen to know a true believer, who cares more about freedom than the latest and greatest in hardware, and you are willing to pay 250 bucks, take a look at the Lemote YeeLoong.
Revolution OS is a documentary from 2001 about the history of GNU/Linux, and the open source and free software movements, featuring interviews with well-known hackers like Richard Stallman, Linus Torvalds, Eric S. Raymond and others.
The DVD set contains one DVD with the 85 minute film and a second DVD with 70 minutes of additional interviews. If you just want to watch the film and don't care too much about video quality, you can do so on Youtube.
Veteran Linux hackers rarely need to cheat when it comes to using Linux commands, but Linux is open to new users, who will appreciate help in becoming terminal masters.
Even though it's probably hard to read while wearing it, the Linux cheat shirt could be a good fit.
When just another Perl hacker Randal L. Schwartz hosts the Floss Weekly podcast, he asks guests Emacs or Vi? himself clearly expressing his preference for Emacs.
I have used Emacs about a decade ago for a few years without ever really mastering it, and nowadays use Vi only when Vim is really not installed.
Linux users sooner or later find their preferred editor. If it happens to be either of these two the Emacs Reference and the Vi Reference coffee mugs will both serve the vital coffee well and be an aid to memory for the most important editor commands.
There has been controversy over Google's Android potentially violating the Linux kernel's copyright, but guess who put it best by saying:
I don't see what the whole brouhaha would be all about. Except if it's somebody politically motivated. If it's some desperate cry for attention by somebody, I just wish those people would release their own sex tapes or something, rather than drag the Linux kernel into their sordid world.
Looks like Linus has no problem with Android so why would someone else? Well, maybe because Android uses Java. Anyway, if I had to choose between an iPad with iOS and an Android tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab I'd take the latter one.
Now that I started quoting Linus Torlvalds lets continue with another pearl of wisdom from the inventor of Linux at the FSF conference in 1996:
Software is like sex; it's better when it's free.
Do you know someone who agrees and is in need of a new hoody?
I like small computers especially when they consume little energy and run a Linux based operating system, for example Linux Mint, as does the CompuLab fit-PC2.
It is described as the smallest and greenest Intel Atom PC with only 6W. No matter whether this still holds true or ever did, the fit-PC2 may be an attractive computer for someone with little space and a green and open mind.
Most geeks I've met like to eat and it's a myth that we order Pizza every day. Being away from the computer and cooking your own meal is a relief you should grant yourself from time to time.
Cooking for Geeks contains many recipes but is more than a usual cookbook, as it explains the kitchen hardware, talks about ingredients and flavors, and tells readers why things are done the way they are.
Not only do most geeks like too eat, but they also like to drink, sometimes even beer or wine. This little gadget comes in handy when you need to open a bootle of beer or wine and looks like a penguin, which is sooo cute.
Of course, you can open bottles containing non-alcoholic drinks as well, but as you know everything good begins with beer.
The Neo FreeRunner is the second phone designed to run software from the Openmoko project, which aims to deliver mobile phones with an open source software stack.
The Neo FreeRunner is described as the most hackable mobile phone ever produced and to be a great device for open source, open hardware and DIY lovers.
Same as the Lemote YeeLoong above the Neo FreeRunner is not competitively priced with $250. Admittedly, I'd go for a more modern device rather than a phone released in 2008, but people are different.
The Ben NanoNote is a small and lightweight pocket computer that can serve as a music player, personal digital assistant, or development platform and even be used to play Doom and Quake.
Again the Ben NanoNote is a device for real hardware hackers and developers, which many Linux geeks happen to be.
What a combination: cinnamon spice, caffeine, a fresh breath, sugar-free, and a penguin logo. Moreover, Penguin provides clear directions for mints usage: Open Mouth, Eat Mints, Have fresh breath and energy! in the product description.
The cinnamon mints are not overly hot but with some bite, certainly a gift I would enjoy. Other mints flavors are offered as well, so different tastes can be met.
Tux is a very popular mascot in the Linux community, several people even the well-known Jon maddog Hall got it as a tattoo.
The idea of having a penguin as the Linux mascot came from Linus, so Tux was created by Larry Ewing in 1996, the same year Linus said the famous sentence above, and named by James Hughes, who said it stands for "(T)orvalds (U)ni(X)".
Tux is also the short form of Tuxedo, the outfit which comes to your mind when you see a penguin, so it seems only logical, at least for Linux geeks, to wear a tuxedo with handcrafted silver Tux cufflinks.
The Misa digital guitar is an exceptional, yet still experimental musical instrument, similar to an electric guitar, that is played using a touch interface. It runs Gentoo Linux on an AMD Geode processor and is equipped with MIDI and Ethernet ports for connectivity.
Watch the videos in the gallery to see and hear what musicians can do with the Misa Kitara. You have to dig deep into your pocket to buy the Kitara, but this would certainly be a very impressive gift.
The people I know who own a kindle are very happy with it. They like that it's an easy to use device for reading ebooks with one month battery life, that offers space for 1400 books and puts less strain on the eyes than for example a tablet.
Even though they are Linux geeks, they probably care less about the underlying operating system. Still it's a Linux based system, except for the kindle fire, that uses the funny named Das U-Boot bootloader to initialize its OS according to hardware hacker Igor Skochinsky.
Compared to the Misa guitar above the 6" Kindle with WiFi is a bargain starting at $79.00 and I guess it's more useful for most people too.
Last but not least give Linux as a gift. Do you know someone who wants to try Linux? You can help to find an appropriate Linux distribution, install it and give some initial guidance on how to use Linux.
And, yes, this will make the world a better place to live in.
I wish you all happy Christmas gifting and am curious about the gift ideas you leave in the comments.
