Gifts for Computer Geeks

Asus has redefined the phrase "ultraportable laptop" with the $400 EEE PC. This 2-pound laptop is tiny (just 8.8" across and an inch thick, with a 7" screen) but perfect for travelers, kids, and anyone else who could use a dirt-cheap laptop the size of a paperback book. Granted, it's only got a 900MHz Intel Mobile processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB hard drive, but it's hard to put much more into a machine this small. The EEE PC does have Wi-Fi plus a Firefox browser, media player, IM client, SD card slot, and 3 USB ports.

It's hard for us to get excited about things like external hard drives and backing up files (even though we know it's really important). But LaCie, the company who brought us the fun designs of the Skwarim portable hard drives and the LEGO-like Brick hard drives, just introduced the 500GB Golden Disk external hard drive. It looks like a big piece of chocolate in a shiny gold wrapper. And thanks to its hi-speed USB 2.0 interface, it offers plug-and-play, driver-free simplicity. Just plug it into your PC or Mac and it instantly stores all your music, photos, video, and other important files

Imagine taking a picture with your digital camera and uploading it to your computer (PC or Mac) or Myspace page without a single wire. You don't need a fancy camera to do this; you just need the Eye-Fi, a 2GB SD card that has a Wi-Fi chip inside. Not only does the Eye-Fi automatically start uploading as soon as you're within range of your home network, it remembers your log-ins and passwords, resizes images when necessary, and costs nothing to use. The Eye-Fi works with almost any camera that uses SD cards.

Leopard has more than 300 new features, including something called Time Machine, which keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on your computer and will virtually take you back in time to find lost files. Leopard also comes with Safari 3, parental controls, iChat AV for instant messaging and videoconferencing (with fun Photo Booth effects and backdrops), and full-size previews of your files without opening applications. And the Boot Camp feature lets you run Windows XP and Vista.

Corsair says its Flash Voyager USB drive "has been shown laundered, baked, frozen, boiled, dropped, and even run over by a SUV" in third party reviews, and the thing still works, thanks to its rubberized, shockproof, and water-resistant case. If that's not enough to sell you on it, consider its high speed, 16GB of storage, USB plug-and-play simplicity, (Windows) software that lets you create a password-protected hidden partition for your most sensitive data, and it works with both PCs and Macs. More Corsair USB drives.

Get a full terabyte of storage (that's 1,000 gigs, if you have to ask) for just $300. The Fantom Drives G-Force MegaDisk has a USB 2.0 interface and a 60MB/Sec bus speed. There's no software to install - just plug it in and you're up and running, on a Mac or a PC. The perfect gift for people with tons of photos, videos, MP3, unpublished novels, and other Important Documents on their hard drives. More external hard drives with 750+ GB of storage.

One of our colleagues says this 2GB SD card is her "favorite gadget of all time." The card has a hinged cover that reveals a USB adapter, so it fits into any machine with a USB port, meaning you can transfer photos easily and directly - no card readers or camera hookups necessary. Perfect for when you're visiting someone and want to give them the pictures you took over the weekend.

You could carry your laptop from your home to your office and back again, or you could just slip this 80GB Seagate FreeAgent portable hard drive in your pocket/handbag. The FreeAgent comes with software that holds more than just your files - it lets you carry around your programs, browser favorites, passwords, and more, so that any PC can temporarily become your PC. It can even synchronize data between multiple PCs.

Garmin's MAP60 CSx is an all-purpose upgradeable handheld GPS device that will work in the car, guiding you to your destination, and then help you out on long hikes and outdoor adventures - it's got an electronic compass, a barometric altimeter, and a battery that lasts up to 20 hours. The device comes with a base map for North and South America, but also has a MicroSD card slot so you can load your own maps for better reference.

Thin and light latops are for the weak. Check out the HP Pavilion HDX laptop. It weighs a whopping 15.5 pounds and has a huge 20" widescreen display. Under the hood, the minimum configuration includes a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Windows Vista Home Premium, 2GB of RAM, a 240GB hard drive, and a TV tuner. But this fancy multimedia laptop requires a strong lap - and an even stronger wallet.

Trap your mouse (and other small items) in the Belkin Mouse Trap mouse pad. Ideal for people who move laptops around from home to work, or from room to room, the Mouse Trap, when zipped, is a convenient protective carrying case that easily snaps onto your bag. When unzipped, it's a soft mouse pad that won't slip on most surfaces. It's hand washable and comes in several color combinations.

Laptops give you mobility. They can also give you backaches from hunching over them for hours at a time. Logitech solves this problem with its Alto Express notebook stand. The simple curved piece of plastic raises your laptop to eye level, so you can sit up straight and get some serious blogging work done. Its space-saving design lets your stow your keyboard and mouse underneath it when not in use, and the scoped-out back helps keep your laptop cool. The Alto Express works with all laptops in the 15.4" - 17" range. Note: Laptop not included.