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Topic: Hardware

10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

Summary: Trendsetters and tech hipsters balk at run-of-the-mill gifts. Surprise them this season with one of these distinct gadgets.

Chris Jablonski

By Chris Jablonski |

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"Alpha Geeks" are techies who don't settle for the world as it is today. They experiment and push the boundaries of tech to create "magic." Just ask Tim O'Reilly: he evangelized the phrase.  Gift giving for this finicky group means tactful selection, so look for products that blend design, functionality and some sort of "x-factor"...be it first-to-market, retro, or just plain awesome.

See also: Holiday gifts for alpha geeks: Part 2 (photos)

The stylish I'm Watch from Italian firm Blue Sky runs on Android and is available in a variety of colors. There are also a few pricey high-end gold and titanium models. The watch connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and comes with 64MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. There’s also a headphone jack for you to listen to music. I'm Watches will start shipping at the end of January 2012. Image credit: Blue Sky

Price: Starting at $413 (299 Euro)

Availability: Preorders available/ Ship date Jan 30, 2012

Learn more: http://www.imshop.it/

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Topic: Hardware

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7 comments
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  • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

    so how is it a holiday gift it doesn't even ship til Jan of 2012?
    kloveloc@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

      @kloveloc@...

      The price of being an early adopter means you sometimes have to wait for products to roll off the bleeding edge. :)

      CJ
      christopher_jablonski
      Reply Vote

      • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

        @christopher_jablonski I am aware of the facts and a gadget junkie myself, but still does not follow that this and another are holiday gifts, perhaps "after holiday" gifts, as in those gifts you buy yourself after returning the ones you got but did not want. Doesn't make a great title though...
        kloveloc@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

        @christopher_jablonski It's hard to be an early *holiday* adopter on a product that isn't even available for purchase until *after* the holidays in question.
        clokverkorange
        Reply Vote

  • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

    @kloveloc@...

    Hmm, that may be a good idea for another guide. But there's always an opportunity to gift these items on Chinese New Year and Valentines Day.
    christopher_jablonski
    Reply Vote

    • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

      @christopher_jablonski Or you could just be honest and say that your editors picked the products based on complicated advertising ties and made you write about them regardless of any protestations you may have had.

      You have to earn a living, man. We aren't haters.
      clokverkorange
      Reply Vote

  • RE: 10 holiday gift ideas for alpha geeks (photos)

    That watch is very expensive..
    Frenz9
    Reply Vote
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